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 (my mother's surname) — 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 a mutated form of fychan "younger". It was a descriptive name to distinguish father from son. In English the word fychan became vychan. Baughan, Bawn, Fychan, Vain, Vane, Vayne.
Voyle — from Welsh moel a mutated from of foel "bald". Foel, Moel.
Walbeoff — derived from an Anglo-Norman family in Brycheiniog. Waldebeuf is listed from the mid-12th C.
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.
Yorath — from Welsh name Iorwerth, derived from ior "lord" + berth "handsome". Common in medieval times. Iorwerth, Yerward, Yorath.
Young — English surname that began as a nickname meaning "junior". Yong, Yonge, Yongue.
Originally Posted by alfieb
This is frequently claimed in the Italian media, but it's wrong.
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