Surname Lewallen - Meaning and Origin
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Lewallen: What does the surname Lewallen mean?
The surname Lewallen is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Welsh personal name Llewellyn. This personal name can be broken down into two elements: "llew," meaning "lion," and "ellyn," meaning "resemblance" or "like." Therefore, the surname Lewallen essentially means "like a lion" or "resembling a lion." This could possibly denote someone with lion-like qualities such as bravery, strength, or leadership. It's important to note that surnames had various origins including geographical locations, occupational trades, nicknames or even descriptions of personal attributes. However, meanings can evolve over time and potentially differ between regions and families carrying the same surname.
Order DNA origin analysisLewallen: Where does the name Lewallen come from?
The surname Lewallen is of Welsh origin. It traces back to the Wales region in the United Kingdom and derives from the Welsh personal name "Llywelyn". The name “Llywelyn” was very popular in Wales during the Middle Ages and the surname Lewallen emerged as a way to identify individuals with the same common name. Different spellings were adopted which resulted in variations such as Lewellen, Lewellin, Llewellin, and Lewallin.
Today, the surname Lewallen is most common in the United States, particularly in the southern regions. The migration of several individuals and families from Wales to America during the 18th and 19th centuries caused the spread of the surname in these areas. These descendants continue to carry the Lewallen name, so it is frequently encountered in states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Online surname distribution maps also show some presence of the name in Australia and Canada. However, occurrences outside the United States are significantly less frequent. Despite its origins, the surname is relatively rare in the United Kingdom today.
Variations of the surname Lewallen
The surname Lewallen has various spellings and variants that may have originated from the same place or family. Some of these include Lewellen, Lewelling, Lewellyn, Llewellyn, Lewellin, and Lowellyn.
These variations possibly arose over time due to different regional dialects, the use of phonetic spelling before standardized spelling rules, errors in transcription, and Anglicization or alteration of non-English names.
Lewallen and its variants are likely of Welsh origin. The name derives from the Welsh personal name Llywelyn, which became Anglicized as Llewellyn. Over centuries, this was further Americanized into different forms like Lewallen, Lewellyn, and others.
Some people with these surnames might have been direct descendants of the same family, using different spellings of the original name, while others may have adopted the surname due to living in a locality associated with that name.
Many surnames also changed upon immigration to America due to phonetic spelling by immigration officers, leading to several variations of the original name. It's important to consider all possible variations when researching family history.
Famous people with the name Lewallen
- Everet Lewallen: American professional gold and juried fine art photographer.
- Sam Lewallen: former governing mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
- Jesse Lewallen: American sculptor and painter based in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Glenn Lewallen: former NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills.
- Andrew Lewallen: American visual artist and art professor.
- Edward Lewallen: Former NFL player with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.
- Ernie Lewallen: Former NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Michael Lewallen: American journalist and online media executive.
- Robert Lewallen: American composer with an extensive career in experimental and electronic music.
- Miriam Lewallen: Former NFL player for the Washington Redskins.