Name origin

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland states these four origins:

“English: relationship name from the Middle English, Old French personal name Lewis , Leweis , Lowis , Continental Germanic Hludwig . This was latinized as Ludovicus and Chlodovisus , which were gallicized as Clovis or Clouis , French Louis . The name may also appear as Lawis , Laweys , Lawes , by unrounding of the vowel of Lowis on the analogy of the variation between Low and Law as pet forms of Middle English Lourence alias Laurence.

Welsh: relationship name adopted for the Welsh personal name Llywelyn.

English: variant of Lewes.

Irish, Welsh: relationship name; in Ireland, this is often the English or Welsh name, but it was also adopted for Irish Mac Lughaidh.”

Variant names

Variants of the name Lewis include Lewes, Louis, Lewies, Lowes, Lowis, Luis, Lawis and Laws (which is already a study in its own right).

However, for this study we will not initially be considering any variants. 

Historical occurrences of the name

From the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland

Early Bearers

As given name: 

  • Lowis le Briton, 1166 in Red Book of the Exchequer (Essex)
  • Lodowicus clericus, 1205 in Curia Regis Rolls (Rutland)
  • Lewys the son of Griffin, 1277-8 in Morgan and Morgan
  • Llewelyn ap Madoc, alias Lewis Rede, 1413 in Bardsley
  • Lewis Glyn Cothi, alias Llywelyn y Glyn, 1447-86 in Morgan and Morgan

As surname: 

  • Walterus filius Lowis, 1209 in Pipe Rolls (Warwicks)
  • Robert Lowis, 1202 in Pipe Rolls (Lancs)
  • William Lewys, 1267 in Feet of Fines (Suffolk), 1309 in London Letter Books D
  • Will’o Lewys de Normanton’, 1316 in Mansfield Court Roll (Notts)
  • Willelmus Lowys, 1377 in Poll Tax (Liskeard, Cornwall)
  • Radulpho Lewis, 1379 in Poll Tax (Loddington, Leics)
  • Philippo Lewys, 1379 in Poll Tax (Madley, Herefs)
  • Johannes Louys, 1379 in Poll Tax (Higham Ferrers, Northants)
  • Christian Lewis, 1538 in IGI (Southill, Beds)
  • Thome Lewis, 1538 in IGI (Leigh with Bransford, Worcs)
  • Andrew Lewis, 1539 in IGI (Sandwich, Kent)
  • Henrie Lewis, 1540 in IGI (Basildon, Berks)
  • John Lewis, 1544 in IGI (Bristol, Gloucs).
  • Morice Lewes, alias Morice ap Llewelin of Putney, 1538 in Early Chancery Proceedings (Merioneths)
  • Thomas ap Lewis, alias Thomas Ll’ ap D’d goz, 1530 in Early Chancery Proceedings (Denbighs).
  • John Lewes, merchant, 1564 in Fiants Elizabeth §648 (Waterford)
  • Nicholas Lewes, 1564 in Fiants Elizabeth §648
  • Edward Lewes, 1570 in Fiants Elizabeth §1694 (Tulloughofyn)
  • Walter Lewes, 1570 in Fiants Elizabeth §1694 (Dounkippe).

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