THE ORIGINS OF THE LEWIS NAME

The History of the Lewis name you reveals many variations, each one as different as the other. The following histories are offered; there may be many more. Of course you cannot claim full accuracy for any of these variations but by the same token each one of these variations may contain some element of truth

• The name Lewis is a derivation of the Norwegian name Ljodhhus, meaning the "sounding house." The "sounding house" was a building that housed the men who took the depth of the seas in the local area.
  
• Known as Caractacus by the Romans, and as Caradwg to his kinsmen, a young Welshman led the forces of free Wales to resist the imperialism of Roman aggression in his home country shortly after the birth of Christ. He married Tegas Everon (which means the golden beauty) a Princess of Brittain, and they had a son named Teon. Teon's son, Gwathford, was a great lord during the time of Roman domination in Wales. For the next fifteen generations, Gwathford's descendents watched the Roman might slowly crumble. All the Lewises of Wales are descendents of Gwathford. A fifteenth generation descendent of Gwathford was Richard Gwynn or Gawain. Richard Gawain had a son named Lewis. This Lewis founded the family name through several sons. He was the father of Lewis of Clibachvargold, Lewis of Penmarc, Lewis of Listolybout, Lewis of Glyntaft, Lewis of Lanshire, Lewis of Newhouse, and Lewis of Green Meadow.
  
• Lewis's were men of power and their name alone carried such prestige that it almost amounted to a title within itself. The name of Lewis in time came to be synonymous to the Welsh for guardian or listener. To the English and the Saxons, Lewis meant fighter.
  
• The name Lewis is a Scandinavian word derived from old Frankish Hludwig and old Germanic Chlodowech meaning "famous warrior." In Latin it was transformed into Ludovicus, and in Gaelic to Clovis. Medieval Italians turned it into Aloisius, while the French adopted Louis.
  
• Some early written records of the Lewis name are found in medieval tax and church records. They note Llewellan Lewis, son of Modach the Reed (which means learned), Archdeacon of Brecon, in 1437. Lewis Owen, Archdeacon of Cartigan is recorded in 1487. Lewis Prevendary of St. David lived in 1502. Ivor Lewis, known as Ivor the Little, was a great warrior in the battle between Wales and England in the 12th century. Waltrus Lewis appears in the 1209 pipe rolls of Warwickshire. Robert Lewis was in the 1202 pipe
  rolls of Lancastershire, and William Lewis in 1267 Fleet of Fines of Suffolk. David Lewis became the first principal of the Jesus College in 1520.
  
• The name Lewis was first used in England as a personal name - Lowis le Briton is recorded in 1166 in the Red Book of the Exchequer of Essex County.

The drawing on the right was taken from the excellent book "Costumes of Everyday Life" - An Illustrated History of Working Clothes 900 - 1910 by Margot Lister. Obviously there was no photographs of the family at that time and so the illustration is that of a Welsh Farm-Worker circa 1770's which many of the Male Lewis's incidentally were.

Her description of the clothes worn is as follows

• Hair - is taken back from the face and worn fairly long although descriptions of the Lewis's reveal that their hair was red and that they had a disposition for premature baldness
• Hat - a dark brown felt hat with the brim turned up at the back
• Garments - The loose "jump" jacket is of blue and red-brown frieze mixture. The knee-breeches are of brown woollen fabric, unfastened at the knees
• Stockings - wrinkled light brown woolen stockings are worn
• Shoes - the buckled shoes are of brown leather

The above drawing is that of a Welsh country woman circa 1770's

• Hair - this is hardly seen under the cap

• Headdress - a frilled white lawn head-fitting cap is worn. Over it a black felt hat with a round flat brim, a crown flat on the top and a narrow band of ribbon hanging from it at the back. The hat is set well back on the head

• Garments - the bodice is of waistcoat shape, short and fitted to the figure, with long plain sleeves, It is of dark green velveteen and ends at the hips. The overskirt of grey green woollen stuff is bunched up to show the underskirt striped in red and grey.

• Stockings - are of grey wool

• Shoes - the black leather shoes have flat heels

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This page was last updated on 01/01/23 17:35