Common Welsh Surnames
ap = son of
Ace — an English name found in the Doomsday Book that appeared in
Wales c. 1293. Wace, Asse, Badham, Baddam.
Adams — a biblical
name common as a surname in England before Wales. Adda is the popular Welsh
version. Adda, Athoe, Atha, Batha, Bathoe.
Adda — Welsh
version of the name Adams. Athoe appears in south Pembrokeshire. Batha
and Bathoe derive from Welsh ab added to Adda. Athoe, Atha, Batha,
Bathoe.
Ajax — found only in one part of Cardiganshire, and seems
to belong to only one family.
Alban — from the name of the first
British Christian martyr; first appeared in Pembrokeshire, spreading to
Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Glamorgan.
Allen — an English
surname brought by Norman invaders, and comes from the forename Alan. Common in
England and Wales by 1853.
Andrew — from the disciple; not common in
Wales, found in southeast Wales and Powys Fadog. Bandra, Bandrew.
Anthony — from the Roman name Antonius, and the name of an early
saint. Found sparsely in south Wales.
Anwyl — derived from the Welsh
word annwyl "beloved, dear, or favorite child". Found in north Wales.
Anwell, Anwill, Annoil.
Arthur — from the legendary King
Arthur; became popular as a personal and surname after Henry VII named his
eldest son.
Ashton — first appears in the early 7th C. in Trefeglwys.
Ashe, Aston, Ash.
Astley — from an English placename adopted
by the Welsh. Records first show the name Asteley in 1574
Montgomeryshire.
Augustus — from Latin augustus "great" or
"magnificent". Not widespread in Wales.
Austin — an English surname
derived from Middle English name Augustine; common in Powys and southeast Wales
in the 15th C. Records show an Austen ap David in 1574 Montgomeryshire. Mainly
found along the coast of south Wales from Carmarthen to Chepstow. Austen.
Awbrey — Welsh adaptation of Norman name de Alberico, who arrived in
Wales shortly after the Conquest. Records show two prominent families, the
Awbreys of Abercynrig, and of Ynyscedwin. Aubrey, Obray.
Bach — "small" or "little"; a variation of Baugh.
Bamford — from a placename in Derbyshire and Lancashire; brought to
Wales by John Bamford of Derbyshire, and settle in Llangurig in 1576.
Bampford, Bamforth, Bumfort, Bumford, Boundford, Bumpford.
Barry — from ap Harry "son of Harry".
Baskerville —
from Britain during the Conquest with Normans from Boscherville; long used on
the border of England and Wales. Basketfield.
Bateman — first
used as a personal name; from the name Bartholomew, often shortened to Bate or
Batte. The man addition means "servant of".
Baugh — derived
from bach "small" or "little". Rare in Wales, more common across the
border into England. Bach, Beach, Batch.
Bebb — listed in
records back to 1596. Families with the name immigrated to the USA. A
descendant, William Bebb (1802-1873) was an Ohio governor. Bebbe, Babb,
Babbs, Bibb, Bibbs.
Bedward — "son of Edward". Bedwards.
Beedle — possibly derived from Middle English word bedele
"town crier"; or a placenames of Bedwell in Hertfordshire Essex, and Bidwell in
Bedfordshire, Devon, Northamptonshire and Somerset.
Belth — rare
surname deriving from the Welsh placename Buallt or Builth. Bealth, Buelth,
Belt.
Benbow — an English surname from the word bendbow
"archer"; it moved into Wales from the midlands. Believed that all Welsh
families can trace their ancestry to William Bendbowe (b. c. 1510) in Prees,
Shropshire. Benbough.
Bengough — from two words pen
"head" + gough or coch "red". Bangough.
Benjamin
— biblical name used as a surname in Wales after the Reformation.
Bennett — probably originated with the 6th C. St. Benedict.
Bevan — derived from ap "son of".
Beynon — derived
from Welsh name ab Eynon, which comes from einion "anvil". Widely in use
by the 13th C. and concentrated in west Carmarthenshire, west Glamorgan,
Pembrokeshire, and Radnorshire. Beinon, Bennion, Baynham, Beynam, Bunyan,
Beynon, ab Onion (a variant of Eynon).
Bidder — from an
English surname, probably meaning "a bidder", or someone who tells assemblies of
people when to stand. Other sources say it means "beggars". 1292 records show an
Iduan ap Budu. Byther, Bydder, Byddir, Buddyr.
Blackwell —
from an English placename, it probably came to Wales with families who can be
traced to Derbyshire.
Blayney — derived from Welsh placenames
blaenau "uplands," and blean "a river source". May be connected
with Castle Blayner in Ireland. The name changed to Blayney in the 16th C.
Blaeny.
Bonner — 13th C. records show the personal name ab
Ynyr, from the Latin name Honorius. Eventually, it changed to a surname rhyming
with "honor". Bunner, Bunna, Binner, Bunnell, Binnell.
Bonsall
— came to Wales with Derbyshire lead miners; Thomas Bonsall of Bakewell in
Derbyshire came to Cardiganshire in the late 8th C.
Boulter- an
English surname deriving from a word meaning "someone who makes bolts". Bolt,
Bolter.
Bound — probably from "bondsman", or the Old Danish
personal name Bundi. Bond, Bounds, Bownd.
Bowdler — originated
with an old Shropshire family and mainly found in along the border in middle
Wales.
Bowen — derived from ab Owen or Owain, "son of Owen". It's
spread through Wales, except in Anglesey in Caernarfonshire.
Bown — a
variant of Bowen; or derived from Bohun or Boon.
Brace — from Welsh bras "fat".
Breese — possibly
derived from the name ap Rhys or Rees; or from Norfolk and Yorshire, England,
deriving from Old English word breosa "gadfly". Bryste, Bryse,
Breeze (brees).
Brigstocke — from an English placename in
Northamptonshire, it came to Wales through marriage when John Brigstock of
Surrey married Morris Bowen of Llechdwnni's daughter in 1626. Brigstock,
Brickstock, Bridgestock.
Brooks — from an English surname meaning
"one who lives at the brook". It is found mainly along the English border.
Brook, Brooke.
Brown — from Old English brun "brown
hair or skin". Common in both Wales and England in 1853. Late 13th C. records
list the variants Bron, Broun, Brun.
Bufton — from an Old
English word meaning "upon the hill".
Bulkeley — ancestry traced to
northeast Cheshire, and was established in Anglesey and Conwy before 1450.
Button — derived from either "one who makes buttons" or a nickname
for someone with a wart or growth.
Bythell — variant of Ithell, "son
of Ithell".
Caddock — from the personal name Badog. A St. Cadog (aka Caedfael)
lived in the 5th C. Caddick.
Cadogan — modern spelling derived
from the Old Welsh name Cadwgan. Some of the families may have had Irish roots.
Carduggan, Cardigan, Gudwgan, Duggan, Kduggan.
Cadwalader —
derived from personal name Cadwaladr, from cad "leader" + gadwaldr
"battle". Coedwallider, Cadwaladr, Walliter.
Cantington — from
an English placename, and appeared mainly in Pembrokeshire.
Canton —
first recorded as Cemais with Anglo-Norman invaders. Descendants are related to
the Coedcanlas family of 1670. Caunton, Caentwn.
Cardiff —
from the Welsh placename.
Cardigan — from the Welsh placename, "one
from Cardiganshire".
Carew — from the Welsh placename.
Charles — from the Latin name Carolus or possibly the Old English
ceorl "man". Not popular until the Stewart kings took power, but appears
in 15th C. records.
Christmas — originally a male personal name given
to a boy born near or on Christmas day.
Clayton — "great"; probably
brought with English settlers. Cleaton (CLEE-ton), Cletton.
Clement — first popular as a personal name in England in the 12th C.,
but shows as an English surname in the 12th and 13th C's.; used in parts of
Wales as a surname by the 15th C.
Clocker — a Cornish surname that
came to Wales with lead mining families pre-1800.
Clougher —
pronounced similar to Clocker; probably came to Wales with a family of stationer
from Ireland, where it is a placename.
Cole — either from Old English
col "coal", or a diminutive of Nicholas. It came to the border counties
from England with the Cole family; it eventually divided into three branches:
Cole, Younge, and Mathias.
Connah — from the Welsh family names Cwna
and Cwnws. Cunnah.
Conway — possibly from Ireland, where it
means "wolf" or "hound of the plain". Conwy.
Coslett — arrived
in Wales c. 1568 with a man name Corslett, an ironsmith. Cosslett.
Craddock — from the Welsh personal name Caradog, the same as
the Latin version of Caractacus, which comes from the British name Caratacus.
Mainly a surname in the English border counties, it only appears once in 15th C.
records.
Crowther — from the Welsh word crythor "a player of
the crwth (an early fiddle)". The word also appears in Middle English as
crouthes or croude.
Crunn — from the Welsh word
cron "round," but added to a personal name for description. It first
appeared in the 17th C.
Cunnick — variant spelling of Welsh surname
Cwnic and personal name Cynog, and was the name of a saint in the 6th C.
Connick, Cwnic, Cynog.
Daniel — a biblical name and a form of the Welsh name Deiniol,
and the name of a 6th C. saint. Possibly adopted under the English spelling in
the post-Reformation era. Daniels.
David — a biblical name
adopted by early Welsh Christians; also the name of the patron saint of Wales,
Dewi (David). The Latin version Davidus led to the Welsh versions Dewydd
and Dewi, but Dafydd is use more. Dackins, Dafydd, Dai, Dakin, Davies, Davis,
Daykyn, Deakyn, Dei, Dew, Dewi, Dewydd, Dyas, Dykins, Dyos.
Dawkins — derived from Dafydd or David. A Thomas Daukyn
was recorded in Castlemartin in 1480. Dawe, Dawes, Dawson, Daukyn.
Deere — derived from the Old English personal name Deora
"dear".
Devonald — derived from the Welsh surname Dyfnallt.
Davenold, Devenallt.
Dodd — originally an English surname
derived from personal names Dudde, Dodda, and Dudda, which were
all widely used in the 14th C. Family can trace their ancestry to Cadwgan Dod
who settled in Cheshire during Henry II's reign.
Edmunds — an English personal name from Old English ead "rich"
+ mund "protector". It appears in 15th C. records.
Edwards —
from the Old English personal name from Old English ead "rich" +
weard "ward" or "guardian". It remained popular after the Norman Conquest
because it was used by both kings and saints. It appears frequently in records
of the 15th C., and it found throughout Wales. The Welsh personal name
Iorwerth is the equivalent. Emment, Emont, Kedward, Kedwards.
Elias — a biblical name that came to Wales as a surname
post-Reformation. Elisha.
Ellis — derived from the Welsh
personal name Elisedd, which is frequently in old records. The final "dd"
was dropped, producing Elisa, Elise, and Elisha. Bayliss, Bellis, Elis,
Ellice, Eliza, Ellisa, Helis.
Emanuel — a biblical name possibly
brought to Wales from Cornwall, where it is listed in 15th and 16th C. records.
Manuel.
Ephraim — a biblical name not popular with Puritans
and came into use mainly in the 18th and 19th C.'s.
Esau — "hairy"; a
biblical name; not very popular in Wales. Esay.
Evans — from
the Welsh name Ieuan (John), the name originated with the "u" was changed
to a "v". Bevan, Evan, Evance, Heavens, Iefan, Ifan, Jeavons, Jevons,
Jeavince.
Eynon — derived from the Welsh name
Einion/Einon, "anvil". A very common personal name before the 15th C.
Beynon, Einon, Enian, Inions, Onions.
Faithfull — an English surname and popular personal name with the
Puritans; it was used rarely, and only on south Wales.
Felix —
derived from the Latin name which means "lucky"; and a saint's name.
Fenna — possibly came from the Welsh name Fenn "a person who
live in a marshy area". Fennah, Fenner Phenna, Phennah.
Folland — the Welsh version of Valentine. Folant, Vallant.
Foulkes — an English personal name, from German folc "folk";
it was introduced by the Normans. Ffoulkes, Ffowkes, Fuge, Volk.
Francis — brought into England in the early 16th C., it was already
in use in Wales in the 15th C. Ffranch, Frenchman, Phrancis.
Gabriel — a biblical name rarely used as either a personal or surname;
mainly found in north and south Wales.
Gadarn — from the forest deity
Hu Gadarn (similar to the Celtic god Cernunnos), who was worshipped by the Welsh
druids.
Games — rare surname derived from the Welsh word gam
or cam "crooked" or "bent". It was usually added to personal names for
description.
Geonor — "engineer", occupational name referring to one
who built walls and possibly medieval machines. Jenner.
George
— from a personal name brought to England by the Crusaders and wasn't popular
until the Hanoverian kings. Until the early 18th C., it didn't appear as a
surname in Welsh records, but appeared as a personal name in the 15th C.
Gethin — derived from the Welsh word cethin "ugly, hideous".
Kethin.
Gibbs — an English surname from the dim. of
Gilbert. Gibbon appears as a personal name in t he 15th C. The variant
Gibby may derive from the Welsh name Cybi. Gibb, Gibbon, Gibbons, Gibby,
Gibba.
Gittins — from the nickname for Gruffydd
(Griffiths). Gittah, Gittings, Gittoes, Gtuo, Gutyn.
Goodwin —
an English surname deriving from Old English name Godwine "good friend".
Popular as a personal name before the Norman Conquest, and the name of King
Harold's father. Goodwyn, Goodin.
Gough — derived from the
Welsh word goch or coch "red", "one with red hair or a red
complexion". Gogh, Goch, Goff, Goudge, Goodge, Gooch.
Gravenor
— from Old French for "great hunter". The name probably came to Wales from
Cheshire, where it is the family name of the dukes of Westminster.
Griffiths — from the Old Welsh name Grippiud, which became
Gruffudd. Modern Welsh is Gruffydd. It was frequented as a name of Welsh princes
and leaders. Old documents show it commonly abbreviated as Gr'. Griffith,
Griffin, Griffies, Griffis, Guto, Gruffydd, Gruffudd.
Gronow —
form of Welsh personal Goronwy, appearing in 15th records. Green,
Greenaway, Greenhow, Greeno, Grono, Gronnah, Grunna, Grunnah.
Gunter — from a German personal name meaning "battle-army"; it came
to Wales with Peter Gunter, a follower of Bernard de Neufmarche.
Guy
— derived from an Old English word for "guide".
Gwalchmai — from the
Welsh words gwalch "hawk" + mai "field"; it can be translated as
"hawk of May". Also a placeneme in Anglesey. Gwalchmai fab Gwyar was a character
in the Arthurian sagas; Gwalchmai ap Meyler was a 12th C. poet. It changed from
a personal name to a surname by the Middle Ages.
Gwilt — derived from
Welsh gwillt "wild". Guilt, Quilt.
Gynne — derived from
Welsh gwyn "white" or "fair hair" or "fair complexion"; it was first used
as a personal name. Gwinnett, Gwyn, Gwynett, Gwynn, Gwynne, Gwyyns, Wyn,
Wynn, Wynne.
Gwyther — "worker"; from the Welsh name
Gwythur, which derives from the Latin word victor. Originating
from Penclawwd on the Gower Peninsular. Guyther, Wither, Withers.
Haines — possibly derived from the personal name Einws, or the
adjective name Hen.
Hall — originally meant "one who works at or
lives in a hall".
Hamer — from a placename in Lancaster and has been
a surname in the area since before 1700.
Harries — "son of Harry or
Henry"; possibly derives from the Welsh name Harri, an early
pronunciation of Henry. Harris, Henry.
Harry — from the Welsh
name Harri, first popular as a personal name because of English and
Norman kings. Harri or Henry was common in Wales by the 15th C. Harrhy,
Hendry, Henry, Parry, Penry, Pendry.
Hatfield — from an English
placename and surname, it first appears in Montgomeryshire c. 1576. Hatfeld,
Hattefeld.
Hathaway — Heathway, Hathawa, Hathawe.
Havard — brought to Wales when Bernard de Neufmarche gave the manor
of Pontwilyn to Sir Walter Havard, recorded by historians as Walter Havre de
Grace.
Heilyn — of Welsh origin, it only appears in the 15th C.
Heylyn, Palin.
Herbert — a surname that includes the earls of
Pembrokeshire and Powis as bearers; it is most prominent in Cardiganshire and
Radnorshire.
Hier — derived from Welsh hir "tall" or "long".
Hire, Hyer.
Hooson — a variant of the English Hughson.
Hopkins — an English surname adopted in Wales; derived from the dim.
Hob (Robert) and the ending kin. A commonly listed name in the
17th C. in Glamorgan. Hopkin, Popkin, Popkins.
Hoskin — of
English origin. The variant Hoesgyn is listed in the 15th C.Hoesgyn, Hodgkin,
Hoiskin, Hoskins, Hoskyn, Oiskins, Poiskin.
Howard — derived from
an Old Norse name. Haward, Herward.
Howe — derived from the
English name Hugh. How, Howes.
Howells — (hew-el;
sometimes said rhyming with "towel") from the Welsh personal name Hywel,
anglicized to Howell. Hoel, Hoell, Hole, Holl, Howel, Howell, Howes, Hywel,
Powell.
Hughes — from the German name Hugh, which came to
England with the Norman Conquest. Hullin, Huws.
Hullin —
derived from Hugh, and probably a variant of Hughes. Hoell, ap
Hullin, Hullyn.
Humphreys — only appears in small numbers in the
15th C. Bumfrey, Bumphrey, Pumphrey, Wmffre.
Husband — from
the English word "householder" or "husbandman"; first recorded in 1532.
Hussey — probably derived from the Middle English word huswif
"mistress of a household". Husseys, Huzzey, Huzzy.
Issac — a biblical name that came to Wales with the Reformation.
Ithell — from the Old Welsh personal name Iudhael. Abethell,
Beethel, Bethell, Bithell, Bythell, Eathel Ethell, Ithael, Ithel.
Jacob — a biblical name that came to Wales with the Reformation;
possibly from the Latin name Jacobus. Jacobs.
James — a
non-Welsh personal name that appears in the 12th C.; used by several saints and
kings.
Jarman — derived from Latin germanus "kinsman".
Jermin, Jermyn, Jermyne.
Jasper — derived from English
Caspar; listed in small numbers in 15th C.
Jeffreys — derived
from the personal name Geoffrey, it was brought by the Normans. Thomas
Jefferson's family had ties with 17th C. Wales. Gregory, Jefferson.
Jehu — a nickname for John that became a surname. Jankin,
Jenkins.
Jervis — derived from Gervaise, a Norman personal
name. Jarvis.
Job — a biblical name that became widespread
from medieval dramas in England. First came to Wales as a personal name with the
Reformation.
John — a biblical name that came as the Latin Johannes
and became Welsh Ieuan. John was used after the Normans arrived. It frequently
written as Sion or Shone since the letter "j" is absent from the Welsh alphabet.
Evans, Shone, Jones (son of John).
Jones — "son of John";
possibly derived from both John and James. Jone.
Joseph — a
biblical name unknown until the Reformation.
Kendrick — from the popular medieval Welsh personal name
Cynwrig.
Kinsey — an English surname derived from Old English
cyn and sige "royal victory".
Kneath — (NAYTH) from
Welsh personal name Cynaethwy; it changed to Kneath through English
influence. Cnaitho, Cneitho, Cnaith.
Knethell — from the Welsh
personal name Cynddelw.
Kyffin — derived from Welsh
cuffin "border" or "boundary". Caffyn, Coffin, Cuffin, Keffin, Kephin,
Kiffin.
Landeg — a mutation of the word glandeg "handsome".
Laugharne — (lahrn) derived from a Welsh placename and anglicized
version of Talacharn. It became Lacharn and Lagharn by the 14th C. de
Lacharn, de Talacharn, de Lagham, Lacharn, Lagharn.
Lewis — from
an English variation of Llewellyn, which the English already had the name
derived from the French Louise and German Ludwig. The Welsh spelling was
Lewys by the 15th C.
Leyshon — derived from Welsh personal
name Lleision. Ley.
Llewelyn — ancient Welsh personal name and
popular name of medieval princes. Some sources say it derives from British names
Lugobelinus and Cunobelinus; while others say it derives from Welsh llew
"lion". 15th C. documents show the nickname Lleo. Flello, Flellos, Hillin,
Hilling, Lello, Lellow, Lewelin, Lewhellin, Llewelin, Llewellin, Llewelling,
Llewellyn, Llewelyn, Llewheling, Llewhellin, Llewhelling, Whellin, Welling,
Wellins.
Lloyd — derived from Welsh llyd "grey-brown".
Occasionally used as a personal name. Flood, Floyd, Llwyd, Loyd.
Llywarch — found in early records; and listed only in Deheubarth in
the 15th C.
Lodwick — from Latin name Ludovicus.
Lougher —
from a Welsh placename, the River Llwchwr. Locker, Lougher.
Lucas — a biblical name common in England; 15th C. records show a
Lucas family in Gower.
Lumley — from an English placename in county
Durham.
Mabe — from Welsh word mab "son"; used as a personal name
before as a surname; also a placename.
Maddocks — derived from Welsh
personal name Madog, the name of princes and leaders. Maddock, Maddox,
Madox, Maddy, Madock.
Mason — an English surname brought to Wales
with immigrant families. Masson.
Matthews — from the biblical
name Matthew; popular in medieval Wales. Mathew, Mathews, Matthew,
Mathias.
Maybery — brought to Wales with a Worcestershire family.
Mayberry.
Mendus — said to have come with the Spanish Armanda
and the Spanish names Mendes and Mendoza. Meands, Means, Menday, Mende,
Mends, Mens.
Meredith — from the ancient Welsh personal name
Maredudd (pronounced with emphasis on the middle syllable); udd
"lord". Beddow, Bedo, Preddy, Predith.
Meyler — from the Welsh
personal name Meilyr.
Meyrick — derived from the Welsh
personal name Meurig, anglicized as Maurice and Morris.
Michael — a biblical name associated with Welsh churches since Norman
times. Fihangel, Mejangle, Mihangel.
Miles — a Germanic name
brought to England with Norman invaders and was popular in the Middle Ages.
Milo.
Mills — "one who works or lives by a mill"; a placename
common in southern England. Mill, Mille, Mylle.
Morgan — said
to be the original name of heretic Pelagius; a popular surname since before the
15th C.
Morris — the English spelling, derived from the Welsh
personal name Meurig and Latin name Mauricius. Morris is the more popular
spelling than Maurice. Maurice, Morse, Morus, Morys.
Mortimer
— from an influential Norman family who lived in medieval Wales.
Mostyn — from a Welsh placename that became a surname.
Nanney — from a Welsh placename and an anglicized version of
Nannau, the name of the Merioneth family estate, they adopted the surname
in the 16th C.
Narberth — from a Welsh placename Narberth in
Pembrokeshire. Narbett.
Nash — "at the ash tree"; from Welsh
and English placenames.
Nevett — derived from Welsh personal name
Ednyfed. The English form is derived from Old English cniht
"knight". Also abbreviated Eden, which led to Bennet in some areas. Bennett,
Eden, Knevett, Nevet.
Newell — an English surname deriving from
Nevill, Nowell, or Noel.
Nicholas — a persona name and
saint's name in the English Middle Ages and related to the name Cole. Cole,
Cule, Cull, Nicolas, Nichol, Nicholls.
Nock — "one who lives by
an oak tree"; either from England, Scotland or Ireland. Noke, Oakley.
Nuttall — derives from a placename in Lacashire or Nottinhamshire and
came to Wales with immigrating families.
Oliver — personal name from England by the Norman invaders, and
probably a form of Olaf. It appears as a surname in Wales in the 15th C.
Bolver, Bolvier.
Owen — an old personal name possibly from
Latin Eugenius or Audoenus; the name of princes and leaders; common by the 15th
C. Owen, Bowen from ap Owen "son of Owen".
Parker — "keeper of the deer park"; an English surname found along the
border.
Parry — derives from ap Harry "son of Harry". The second most
common name in Wales.
Pask — came from England and Cornwall; from the
name Pascall, a 9th C. saint and pope. Originally may have derived from
Latin pascha "Easter". Paish, Pascoe.
Paskin — similar
to Pask, derived from the Old Welsh personal name Paskent or
Pascen.
Peate — English surname derived from Middle English
word for "pet" or "darling". It came to Wales before 1600. Pate, Peat,
Peete.
Peregrine — from either Latin peregrinus "pilgrim";
or the anglicized Perkin.
Perkins — from the personal names
Piers and Peter. Perkyn was a personal name, later becoming a surname.
Perkin, Perkyn.
Peters — from a personal name that became a
surname in late Welsh history.
Phillips — derived from Greek name
Phillippos "lover of horses"; and the name of several saints. Common by the 13th
C. Filpin, Phelps, Philpin.
Picton — from Picton Castle in
Monmouthshire, built by William de Picton.
Pierce — from Old French
name Piers. Pearce, Pearson, Piers, Pirs, Pyrs.
Powell — from
ap Howell "son of Howell".
Price — from ap Rhys or ap Rees "son of
Rhys".
Pritchard — from ap Richard "son of Richard". Prickett,
Uprichard.
Probert — from ap Robert "son of Robert". Probart,
Propert, Roppert.
Probyn — from ap Robin "son of Robin"; Robin is
a dim. of Robert.
Profit — possibly from Old French prophete
"prophet"; the Welsh probably heard it in medieval mystery plays. Prophet,
Propert.
Prosser — from ap Rosser "son of Rosser".
Prothero — from ap Rhydderch "son of Rhydderch". Prydderch,
Rothero.
Pugh — from ap Hugh "son of Hugh". Tugh.
Rees — from medieval Welsh personal name Rhys, the name of
several leaders and princes. Creese, Preece, Resius, Rheseus, Rhys, Rice,
Riceus.
Reynolds — derived from Germaic personal name Reynold,
which came with the Normans. The Welsh version is Rheinallt. Reynold,
Rheinallt, Rynallt, Rynalt.
Rhydderch — "liberal"; ancient Welsh
personal name and name of 6th C. leader Rhydderch Hael. Common in the Middle
Ages. Rothero, Ruddock, Ruddz, Ruther.
Richards — derived from
the Germanic personal name, from ric "power" + hard "strong" or
"hardy". Crichard, Crichett, Prichard, Pritchard.
Roberts — a
Germanic name that came with the Normans, derived from hrod "fame" +
berht "bright". Probert, Robin, Roblin.
Roch — from a
Welsh placename. Anglo-Norman Roch Castle is built on a promontory in
Pembrokeshire. The name went to Ireland with the Norman invasion, becoming Roche
there.
Roderick — of Germanic origin, but connected with the Welsh
personal names Rhodri and Rhydderch.
Rogers — derived
from German name Roger, from hrod "fame" + gar "spear". It came to
Wales and England with the Norman invasion. Prodger, Rosier, Rosser.
Rowlands — from German personal name Roland, from hrod "fame"
+ land "land," brought by the Normans. Rowland.
Salmon — derived from the personal name Solomon in the
post-Reformaion era.
Salusbury — from an English placename. William
Salesbury (1520-1584) translated part of the Bible into Welsh. Salbri,
Salebiri, Salesbury.
Sambrook — from an English placename;
occasionally used as a personal name. Sambroth, Samrook, Sandbrook,
Shambrook.
Samuel — a biblical name that began as a personal
name. Samwell.
Savage — began as a descriptive nickname.
Sayvage.
Sayce — derived from Welsh sais "English
speaking". Saer, Saies, Sais, Saise, Says, Sayse, Seys.
Sheen
— from the Old English word for "fair" or "handsome"; also an English placename.
Sheldon — brought to Wales from Derbyshire in the late 18th and early
19th C.'s.
Smith — an occupational name; claimed to be the most
common surname in England, Wales, Scotland and the USA, and the 5th most common
in Ireland.
Smout — probably from Derbyshire and a possible variant
of Smith. Smout is also found in Scotland. Smooth, Smout, Smoth, Smuth.
Stephens — from the Greek stephanos "wreath", "garland" or
"crown". The name of early popes, it was brought England by the Normans.
Immigrants to the US changed the spelling to Stevens.
Stradling — a Tudor family name, they helped Robert fitz Hamo conquer
Glamorgan. They trace their ancestry to John de Estatlinges from Strattligen,
Switzerland, during Edwards I's reign. Estatling.
Swancott —
from an English placename from Shropshire.
Tannatt — from the river Tanad or Tannat in Montgomeryshire, taken as
a name by gentry family in the 16th C. Tanat.
Taylor — an
English occupational name; listed as the 4th most common name in England in
Wales in 1853.
Teague — either from the Irish personal and surname
Tegan; or a derivation of Welsh teg "fair" or "beautiful". Deage,
Degg, Teage, Tecka, Tegan, Tegg, Tegue.
Tew — derived from Welsh
tew or dew "fat".
Thomas — a biblical name derived from
Greek didymos "twin". Until the Norman Conquest, it was only a priest's
name; it became popular after Thomas à Becket; not listed as a surname in Wales
until the 15th C.
Tibbot — from the personal name Theobald,
originally French Thibaud; brought by the English. Tibbett, Tibbetts,
Tibbitt, Tibbitts.
Timothy — biblical name from Greek personal
name Thimotheus "honoring God". Not used in Wales until the
post-Reformation.
Treharne — an anglicized version of
Trahaearn, from tra "over" or "excessive" + haearn "iron".
Trevor — an early Welsh placename, usually connected with estates.
Trewent — derived from a Welsh placename recorded from medieval times
to the 20th C.
Trow — derived from the Old English word for
"faithful" or "true"; others say it began as a Devon placename from Old English
trog "trough".
Tucker — from an English occupational name
meaning "one who fulls cloth". It is interchangeable with Fuller.
Tudor — from a north Wales placename. Most notable of this name were
the Tudor monarchs. Henry VII's grandfather's name was actually Owain ap
Meredith ap Tudor, aka Owain Tudor. Tudor is confused with Tewdwr, which derives
from a first name. Tewdwr, Tidder, Tither, Tutor.
Turner —
from an English occupational name, meaning "one who works with a lath".
Turnor, Tyrno'r.
Vaughan — derived from Welsh Walbeoff — derived from an Anglo-Norman family in Brycheiniog.
Waldebeuf is listed from the mid-12th C. Yorath — from Welsh name Iorwerth, derived from ior "lord" +
berth "handsome". Common in medieval times. Iorwerth, Yerward,
Yorath.
Voyle — from Welsh moel a
mutated from of foel "bald". Foel, Moel.
Walters — derived
from the German name Walter, from wald "rule" + heri "warrior,"
brought by the Normans. The Welsh adopted the name Gwallter. Walliter,
Waters, Watt, Wattars.
Warlow — derived from Middle English
warloc "warlock, wizard". Wardlow, Warlach, Warlaz.
Warren — from the German name Warin, and Old French Guarin or Guerin,
becoming Gwaren in Wales.
Watkins — used at one time as a
personal name in some parts; a dim. of Walters. Gwatkin, Watkiss.
Watts — dim. form of Walter; found in Wales and Scotland.
Weal — from an English placename, referring to one who lives by the
waterwheel. The Cornish version is whel "mine-working". Wheal,
Wheels.
Weaver — an English occupation name from Old English
wefan "to weave".
Whittal — derived from a placename, White
Hill or Whitwell. Whettal, Vittle.
Wigley — from a Derbyshire
placename.
Wild — from the English surname Wilde, meaning "one who
lives in wild places". Documents show a Wild family in 1292. Wilde.
Wilding — from an Old English name, either a personal name or
nickname.
Williams — from the German name Wilhelm, a combination of
the words "will and "helmet," brought by the Normans. The Welsh adopted it as
Guilielm and Gwilym, becoming Gwilliam and Gullam. Guilielm, Gwilym,
Gwilliam, Gullam, Wilson.
Wogan — possibly came with migrating
Irish families; or deriving from the Welsh Gwgan.
Woosencraft
— derived from the Lancashire placename Wolstencroft, from the personal
name Wulfstan + croft "enclosure". Woosencroft.
Woosnam — from the Lancashire placename Wolstenholme, from the
personal name Wulfstan + holm "a dry land in the fen". It first
appeard in 1596.
Worthing — derives from either a Shropshire
placename, Worthen; or from Old English name Worth "worthy".
Wynne — mutated version of Welsh name Gwynne. Wynn.
Young — English surname that began as a nickname meaning
"junior". Yong, Yonge, Yongue.