Welsh surnames
Hey there, do you know what a surname is? It’s the family name that comes after someone’s first name. For example, Anna Smith - Smith is the surname. Now, people in Wales have their own unique surnames that are commonly used there. So let me explain Welsh surnames to you like you’re five years old.
In Wales, many surnames come from the Welsh language, which is the traditional language spoken there. Others have been adapted from the English language or come from other countries altogether.
One thing that makes Welsh surnames special is that many of them start with ‘ap’ or ‘ab,’ which means “son of”. For example, if a man's name is Rhys and his father's name is Owain, his surname might be “ap Owain” meaning “son of Owain”. Similarly, someone whose father's name is Thomas might have the surname “ab Thomas”.
Welsh surnames also often have a meaning or relate to a profession. For example, the surname “Evans” comes from the Welsh word “Iefan” which means “John” and “Powell” comes from the word “pawl”, meaning “son of Paul”. Similarly, the surname “Jones” comes from “Siôn” which means “John” and “Baker” refers to someone who was a baker by profession.
Lastly, some Welsh surnames were traditionally given based on the location an individual lived in or their land ownership. For example, someone who lived near a hill might have the surname “Penry” meaning “hilltop”. Similarly, someone who owned a place named after a tree, such as Birchfield might have the surname “Birch” or “Byrche”.
Overall, Welsh surnames can be based on a person's father's name, profession, location or even physical attribute. So, if you ever meet someone with a Welsh surname, take that as an opportunity to learn more about them and their history!
In Wales, many surnames come from the Welsh language, which is the traditional language spoken there. Others have been adapted from the English language or come from other countries altogether.
One thing that makes Welsh surnames special is that many of them start with ‘ap’ or ‘ab,’ which means “son of”. For example, if a man's name is Rhys and his father's name is Owain, his surname might be “ap Owain” meaning “son of Owain”. Similarly, someone whose father's name is Thomas might have the surname “ab Thomas”.
Welsh surnames also often have a meaning or relate to a profession. For example, the surname “Evans” comes from the Welsh word “Iefan” which means “John” and “Powell” comes from the word “pawl”, meaning “son of Paul”. Similarly, the surname “Jones” comes from “Siôn” which means “John” and “Baker” refers to someone who was a baker by profession.
Lastly, some Welsh surnames were traditionally given based on the location an individual lived in or their land ownership. For example, someone who lived near a hill might have the surname “Penry” meaning “hilltop”. Similarly, someone who owned a place named after a tree, such as Birchfield might have the surname “Birch” or “Byrche”.
Overall, Welsh surnames can be based on a person's father's name, profession, location or even physical attribute. So, if you ever meet someone with a Welsh surname, take that as an opportunity to learn more about them and their history!
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