Names give us a way to identify each other and ourselves. Often, they are family names that have special meaning for us. Welsh names are no exception.
Welsh Alphabet Pronunciation
Knowing a bit about the Welsh language can help you understand Welsh names. Welsh came from early Celtic people who settled in the area of Wales. Welsh is a phonetic language, and each letter must be pronounced. There are no silent letters. For example, the place name Coed (meaning “woods”) is pronounced “ko'ed.”
It’s also useful to know that W and Y are vowels.
- W is pronounced “oo.”
- Y is pronounced “uh” unless it is the last syllable of a word; then, it is pronounced “ee.”
- F is pronounced as “v.”
- DD is pronounced as the th in the.
- CH is pronounced as in the last letters in Bach.
Welsh Patronymic Naming System
The Welsh form of patronymics—or giving the son the first name of his father as his surname—uses the prefix “ab” or “ap,” which is a contraction of the Welsh word for “son.”
For example, “Dafydd ap (or ab) Owen” would be “David, son of Owen.” Sometimes, the a in ab was dropped, so David’s last name could have become “Bowen.” In another instance, “Dafydd ap Hywel” could become “David Powell.” See the FamilySearch wiki page on Welsh personal names for more information on how the Welsh patronymic system worked.
The patronymic naming system started to fade in the 1500s when the Act of Union in 1536 required all official documentation to be in English. Some border towns used English-given names for patronymic surnames. For example, John became Jones, William became Williams, and David became Davis. Some last names also came from nicknames or place-names.
Because of the legal conversion from Welsh to English, the number of traditional Welsh surnames today is somewhat limited. The most common Welsh surnames are Jones, Evans, Williams, Davis, and Thomas.
20 Popular Welsh Surnames and Their Origins
Welsh surnames originate from a rich history and culture, reflecting the ancient Celtic, Norman, and unique linguistic heritage of the Welsh people. Each name carries a story, linking modern individuals to their distant ancestral past. Let’s take a look at 20 of the most popular Welsh surnames and their meanings.
1. Jones
Origin: Common in Wales and south-central England, the surname Jones is historically the habitational or occupational name for someone who lived or worked at John's (house).
2. Williams
Origin: A variant of William, Williams is the third most common surname in the United States and is also very common in Wales. It was brought to North America independently from a number of bearers in the 17th century.
3. Davies
Origin: Davies is a common surname in both Wales and England. A variant of Davis, Davies is the patronymic equivalent to Welsh ap Dafydd: "Dafydd's son."
4. Evans
Origin: Derived from Evan and medieval forms of Ieuan, Evans is a Welsh surname that is very common in the United States.
5. Thomas
Origin: The surname Thomas is hugely common across the globe, but in Britain, it is concentrated mainly in Wales. It originates from the biblical name Thomas, a byname meaning “twin.”
6. Roberts
Origin: Derived from Robert and popular in the United States, England, and Wales, the surname Roberts has strong links to Jewish culture.
7. Hughes
Origin: A variant of the name Hugh, the name Hughes has a strong Gaelic influence based on the name Aodh, meaning “fire.”
8. Morgan
Origin: Morgan is one of the oldest and most common Welsh surnames, but it also has strong ties to Scottish heritage, established in medieval times. It has been suggested that the name was established in Scotland independently and not as the result of Welsh migration.
9. Lewis
Origin: In Wales, Lewis is a name adopted from the Welsh name Llewellyn, which is derived from British Celtic Lugubelinos.
10. Edwards
Origin: A variant of Edward, Edwards is a common name among African Americans. It originates from English and Welsh immigrants. The name gained popularity because it was the name of multiple ancient Anglo-Saxon kings.
11. Griffiths
Origin: The Welsh surname Griffiths is an anglicized form of Gruffudd, from the Old Welsh Grippud.
12. Price
Origin: Price is another one of the most common Welsh surnames, established in Ireland since the 14th Century. It is the anglicized form of Rhys.
13. Morris
Origin: The surname Morris comes from the Welsh name Meurig, which was eventually superseded by Morus and Morys.
14. Rees
Origin: Rees is a common Welsh name and is a variant of Rice. The name originates from Rhys ap Tewder, the last king of an independent Wales.
15. Owen
Origin: From the personal name Owain, derived from Latin Eugenius, the Welsh name Owen has close ties with Old Irish names such as Eogán.
16. James
Origin: While it was popular in Wales, the name James was introduced to England first by the Normans. Origins include late Latin, Greek, and Hebrew influences before it developed into James in medieval French.
17. Jenkins
Origin: Jenkins is very popular in England, especially southwestern England, but it is strongly associated with Wales.
18. Richards
Origin: Derived from Richard, Richards is a name composed of ancient German elements, roughly translating to terms like “powerful,” “hardy,” “brave,” and “strong.”
19. Powell
Origin: Powell originates from Welsh ap Hywel, a name that roughly translates as “eminent.”
20. Lloyd
Origin: Lloyd is a descriptive nickname for the Welsh name llwyd, meaning “gray.” This term also includes shades of brown and is often used with reference to younger men.
5 Welsh Girl Names
Traditional girl names tend to be descriptive. For example, Mali means “wished-for child” and is the Welsh version of the name Molly.
Some of the most popular Welsh girl names are listed below.
1. Seren
Origin: Seren means “star.”
2. Megan
Origin: Megan is the equivalent of the English name Margaret.
3. Ffion
Origin: Ffion refers to the foxglove flower. It is believed to stem from the Welsh word ffiaidd, which means "fair" or "blessed." It could also come from the Old Welsh ffionn, which means "white" or "bright."
4. Lowri
Origin: Lowri is the equivalent of the English name Laura.
5. Nia
Origin: The name Nia was popularized by the Welsh poet T. Gwynn Jones in the 19th century. In his poems, Nia went to Tir Na Nog (the land of youth).
Other popular girl names include Cadi, Eria, Efa, and Elin.
5 Welsh Boy Names
Like girl names, Welsh boy names are also descriptive.
Here are some popular Welsh boy names:
1. Dylan
Origin: Dylan means “son of the sea.” Dylan is also the name of a popular character in Welsh mythology.
2. Owen
Origin: Owen means “well born.” It is a variant of Owain.
3. Rhys
Origin: Rhys means "ardent" or "passionate." It is also linked with the proto-Celtic word rēgs, which means "ruler" or "chieftain."
4. Elis
Origin: Elis is a variant of the Biblical names Elijah and Elias. It means "God's promise."
5. Lewis
Origin: Lewis is the Welsh version of Louis. It means "warrior" and "renowned."
Some other popular boy names are Arthur, Osian, Jac, and Gruffydd.
Use FamilySearch to Research Welsh Names for Free
Now that you know the basics of Welsh names and how to pronounce them, look through your family tree to see if you have Welsh ancestry. Using the birth country feature makes this search easy. Enjoy learning more about your Welsh ancestors!
Learn More About Wales
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