LLEWELLYN
Llewellyn
The surname Llewellyn, also spelled as Llewelyn, is of Welsh origin derived from the given name Llywelyn. The name Llywelyn itself is composed of the Welsh elements "llyw," meaning leader, and "elyn," which translates to likeness or akin. Therefore, the surname Llewellyn can be understood to mean "son of Llywelyn" or "descendant of the leader."
In Welsh history and culture, the name Llywelyn holds significant importance as it was borne by several prominent rulers, most notably Llywelyn the Great (Llywelyn Fawr) and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who were Princes of Gwynedd and ruled over vast territories in Wales during the medieval period.
The surname Llewellyn is commonly found throughout Wales and among the Welsh diaspora. Over time, variations in spelling have arisen, including Llewelyn and Llewelling, reflecting the phonetic evolution and different regional dialects.
Famous bearers of the surname Llewellyn include the Welsh author and poet D. J. Llewellyn, the British actor Desmond Llewelyn known for his role as "Q" in the James Bond films, and the English cricketer Alan Llewellyn. The name has also been associated with a variety of fields such as literature, entertainment, and sports, contributing to its enduring presence in contemporary British society.
There are approximately 10,934 people named Llewellyn in the UK. That makes it the 845th most common surname in Britain. Around 168 in a million people in Britain are named Llewellyn.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Gareth
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joanne
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Sian
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Lewelin
- Lewell
- Lewellen
- Lewellin
- Lewelling
- Lewellyan
- Lewellyn
- Lewelyn
- Lewllyn
- Llewelin
- Llewellan
- Llewellen
- Llewelleyn
- Llewellin
- Llewelling
- Llewelllyn
- Llewelly
- Llewellyan
- Llewellym
- Llewellyns
- Llewelyn
- Llewhallin
- Llewhelin
- Llewhellin
- Llewhellyn
- Llewillyn
- Llewllin
- Llewllyn
- Llewlyn
- Llewwllyn
- Llewyhellyn
- Llewyllyn
- Llwellyn
- Llwelyn
- Llwewllyn
- Llywellyn
- Lywellyn
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.