🔥 200+ Welsh Last Names With Meanings (Updated 2026)
Welsh last names are steeped in history, manifesting both the ancient Celtic roots of the country and its unique language traditions.
It tells of Wales’ history and many names starting with the patronymic system used to form names such as “Jones” and “Evans,” as well as imaginary names relating to Welsh geography, mythology, or occupations.
This guide will highlight the origins, meanings, and continuing significance of each name, whether you’re doing your research or just interested in the beauty of Welsh names.
Welsh last names
Bevan – son of Evan (Evan = youth or young warrior)
Blevins – derived from the Welsh personal name Bleddyn (a medieval Celtic name)
Beynon – “son of Einion” (Einion = an old Welsh given name)
Bleddyn – original Welsh name meaning “wolf”
Braith – from Welsh braith meaning “speckled”
Cadwaladr – from Welsh word cad (battle) + gwaladr (leader)
Carew – place name in Wales, also means “fortress” or “enclosure”
Castell – Welsh for “castle” or fortified place
Cothi – from the River Cothi in Wales
Daffey – Welsh, often meaning “beloved”
Dyfodwg – ancient Welsh personal name, linked to a saint of early Wales
Fardd – Welsh for “poet” or someone noted for verse
Fflur – Welsh word for “flower”
Flewellen – variant of Llewellyn, meaning leader or lion-like
Fluellen – another variant of Llewellyn
Gittens – “son of Gethin” (Gethin = fiery or dark)
Glyn – Welsh for “valley”
Gwilym – Welsh form of William or “resolute protector”
Gwynn – Welsh for “white” or “fair”
Gwyther – root gwy meaning “water”
Halkyn – from the place name Halkyn in Wales
Hefin – Welsh for “summer”
Iwan – Welsh variant of John or “God is gracious”
Lloyd – from Welsh llwyd, meaning “grey”
Llywelyn – evolved from ancient Welsh personal name, historically linked to Welsh princes
Machynlleth – locational surname from the town of the same name
Madoc – Welsh given name that also became a surname
Machen – from the place Machen in Wales
Medwin – Welsh for “strong friend”
Mervyn – old Welsh name meaning “great lord”
Morien – Welsh name meaning “sea born”
Nannau – from the Nannau estate in Wales
Nanney – variant of Nannau
Padarn – ancient Welsh personal name
Powis – derived from the region of Powys in Wales
Powys – name of the Welsh kingdom and region
Prichard – Welsh “son of Richard” re-spelled
Prothero – from ap Rhydderch, meaning “son of Rhydderch”
Pryce – variant of Price, from ap Rhys
Pugh – from ap Hugh, meaning “son of Hugh”
Reece – derived from Rhys, meaning “enthusiasm” or “ardor”
Rees – another form of Rhys
Rice – variant of Rees linked to Rhys
Rhydderch – old Welsh name meaning “reddish brown”
Sayer – from Welsh saer, meaning “carpenter”
Sear / Sears – variant of Sayer
Skyrme – rare Welsh surname linked to location or trade (entry examples vary historically)
Stevens – Welsh use of the English patronymic surname “son of Steven”
Tudor – originally a Welsh personal name later adopted as a family name
Vaughan – Welsh fychan, meaning “younger” or “little”
Vaughn – variant of Vaughan
Wace – rare Welsh form of “servant”
Walker – occupational name used in Wales from cloth-fulling trade
Walters – Welsh use of “son of Walter”
Watkins – from son of Wat / Walter
Whittaker – locational English name also found in Welsh families
Wilkins – from son of Wilkin
Wynne – from Welsh gwyn, meaning “fair” or “blessed”
Wyndham – English/Welsh name found in Wales historically
Yeo – found in Welsh records, sometimes linked to river names
Ab Owain – patronymic “son of Owain” in early Welsh naming
Ab Owen – variant of the above
ap Rees – early Welsh patronymic meaning “son of Rees”
ap Richard – “son of Richard” in traditional Welsh records
ap Robert – “son of Robert” in old patronymic usage
ap Thomas – early form meaning “son of Thomas”
ap Harry – “son of Harry” (often became Parry)
ap Hywel – “son of Hywel,” later Powell
ap Hugh – Welsh patronymic that became Pugh
ap Owen – became Bowen in later spelling
Llewellyn – alternative spelling of Llywelyn
Meredith – from old Welsh personal name meaning “protector of the sea”
Griffith – from Gruffudd meaning “strong lord”
Griffiths – patronymic “son of Griffith”
Meurig – Welsh given name turned surname
Ellis – Welsh usage of Elijah/Elisedd
Gough – from coch meaning “red” (a nickname)
Gower – from the Gower region in Wales
Perry – from patronymic ap Herry
Parry – from ap Harry
Hughes – derived from given name Hugh
Maddocks – from Welsh personal name Madoc
Maddox – variant of Maddocks
Edwards – Welsh and English usage of “son of Edward”
Phillips – Welsh adoption of “son of Philip”
Pritchard – from ap Richard pronunciation variant
Roberts – from “son of Robert”
Owens – plural patronymic from Owen
Hughes – frequent Welsh patronymic form
Llewelyn – duplication reinforced by historical popularity
Vaughan – descriptive “younger”
Lawrence – used historically in Wales as a surname
Miles – Welsh families also adopted this surname
Rowlands – derived from Roland, found in Welsh records
Salisbury – taken up by Welsh families historically
Treharne – Welsh surname from tref (homestead) + arne
Tregoning – Welsh locational surname
Upjohn – Welsh adoption of the English surname
Wallace – found among Welsh records
Yeo – used by Welsh families near rivers
Jones – Son of John
Evans – Son of Evan
Williams – Son of William
Davies – Son of David
Thomas – Son of Thomas
Roberts – Son of Robert
Lewis – Son of Lewis
Hughes – Son of Hugh
Morgan – Sea chief or great defender
Griffiths – Son of Gruffudd (strong lord)
Owen – Descendant of Owain (well-born or noble)
Rees – Fiery or ardent
Edwards – Son of Edward
Lloyd – Grey or holy
Price – Son of Rhys (enthusiasm)
Powell – Son of Hywel (eminent or prominent)
Pritchard – Son of Richard
Gwynne – Fair or blessed
Morris – Dark-skinned or Moorish
Parry – Son of Harry
Howell – Eminent or exalted
Vaughan – Small or younger
Meredith – Great ruler
Tudor – Ruler of the people
Bevan – Son of Evan
Bowen – Son of Owain
Hopkins – Son of Hopkin (small hope)
Madoc – Fortunate or good
Treharne – Strong or steadfast
Bryn – Hill or mound
Caradog – Loving or beloved
Driscoll – Interpreter or intermediary
Emrys – Immortal
Gethin – Dark-skinned or swarthy
Harries – Son of Harry
Idris – Fiery lord
Iorwerth – Handsome or worthy lord
Jenkins – Son of Jenkin
Maddocks – Son of Madoc
Meirion – Sea fortress
Mostyn – Fortress or stronghold
Probert – Son of Robert
Talfryn – High hill
Trevor – Large village or settlement
Wynne – White or fair
Ellis – Benevolent or kind
Cledwyn – Harsh or rough river
Dyfan – Little wave
Eurig – Golden or wealthy
Trefor – Great town or settlement
Aberth – Sacrifice or offering
Ap Rhys – Son of Rhys (enthusiasm)
Bach – Small or little
Bleddyn – Wolf or hero
Cadwaladr – Battle leader
Cadogan – Honor in battle
Carew – Fort or stronghold
Cynan – Chief or ruler
Dewi – Beloved (Welsh form of David)
Drakeford – Dragon’s ford
Dyfrig – Water dweller
Eifion – Derived from the region of Eifionydd
Eilian – Second or another
Elystan – Battle leader
Ffowc – Derived from “Falke,” meaning falcon
Garmon – Brotherly or ally
Geraint – Elder or old man
Glyn – Valley or glen
Gwalchmai – Hawk of the plain
Gwarthegydd – Protector or defender
Gwilym – Protector or resolute
Havard – Battle guard
Heddwyn – Blessed peace
Hywel – Eminent or prominent
Iestyn – Righteous or just
Ifan – Welsh form of John (God is gracious)
Llewellyn – Like a lion
Llinos – Finch (a type of bird)
Macsen – The greatest (from Magnus)
Maelor – Prince or ruler
Mathias – Gift of God
Meurig – Famous ruler
Morien – Born of the sea
Nefyn – Sacred or holy
Owain Glyndŵr – A historical surname meaning “land of Owain”
Pedr – Welsh form of Peter (rock)
Peredur – Steel spear
Pennant – Headland or high hill
Prys – Derived from “ap Rhys” (son of Rhys)
Rhisiart – Welsh form of Richard (brave ruler)
Rhydderch – Ruler or judgment
Seiriol – Bright or shining
Siencyn – Welsh form of Jenkin (little John)
Steffan – Crown or garland
Talfan – High summit
Tegwyn – Fair and blessed
Trahaearn – Strong like iron
Trystan – Tumult or outcry
Urien – Privileged or noble-born
Yorath – Derived from Iorwerth (worthy lord)
