origins
English (but most common in Wales)
From Lowis, Lodovicus, a Norman personal name composed of the Germanic elements hlod ‘fame’ + wig ‘war’. This was the name of the founder of the Frankish dynasty, recorded in Latin chronicles as Ludovicus and Chlodovechus (the latter form becoming Old French Clovis, Clouis, Louis, the former developing into German Ludwig). The name was popular throughout France in the Middle Ages and was introduced to England by the Normans.
Welsh
From an Anglicized form of the personal name Llywelyn (see Llewellyn).
Irish and Scottish
Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Lughaidh ‘son of Lughaidh’. This is one of the most common Old Irish personal names. It is derived from Lugh ‘brightness’, which was the name of a Celtic god.
Jewish
Americanized form of any of various like-sounding Jewish surnames.
links
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis01.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis02.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis03.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis04.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis05.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis06.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ll/lewis07.php (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ww/wales49.php#cae1 (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ww/wales70.php#link1 (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/zwrk/temp88.php#lewis1 (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/tt/turberville1.php#lewis (membership required to view without interruption)
- https://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ww/wales41.php#lnk1 (membership required to view without interruption)