The aim of this study in the long term is to collect together family histories of families named Lewis.

We have gathered together eight experienced study associates and first worked out a provisional plan in the hope that members of the Guild can help in gathering together what might be small family groups from their own family research.

The initial thrust was to restrict our collection to Registration Districts in the UK and only collect up to and including the 1851 census in the UK. Since the other countries are much more difficult to break down into small areas we have gone for States, and Provinces and territories for the US and Canada. This means as we gather volunteers they can have a choice of areas they take on.

The other idea coming out of the discussion on tackling what will be a huge undertaking was to help new members get a feel for collecting records and building families in an atmosphere where our study guides can show them the ropes and offer advice.

Watch for updates about our Study Associates and their research areas - and finds.

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. 

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."

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).

Lewis as a surname currently has the following frequencies, according to Forebears.io (data from 2014)

Forebears.io ranks Lewis as the 546th most common surname in the world, with approximately 995,193 people bearing the surname as of 2014. 

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland quotes current frequencies (2016) of:

• Great Britain: 112,613
• Ireland: 2010 

And notes that in 1881 there were 78,457 instances of the Lewis surname in Great Britain. 

World Distribution

According to Forebears.io the world of Lewis looks like this in terms of numbers in 2014;

U.K. by Registration district (well mainly Wales) in 1881

We are still in early stages, however currently we have contributors working on the following areas (note this list may not be totally accurate as we are receiving new requests to contribute daily). Please head to our website and blog for up to date information. 

England, Scotland and Wales 1851 census Registration Districts

(in bold have been added to the website)

• Altrincham
• Stockton
• Stroud
• Liverpool
• Docking
• Swaffham
• Thetford
• Walsingham
• Wayland
• Guisborough
• Helmsley
• Northallerton
• Pickering
• Whitby
• Lewes
• Wolverhampton
• Bromsgrove
• Montgomeryshire
• Denbighshire
• Scotland (all)

Rest of World

• New Brunswick (1850 census and onwards)
• Canada East & some other areas
• Ireland (1901 census)
• Australia (initially looking at convict records)

Other

In addition, we are working on trees linked to Piece by Piece: a genealogical jigsaw. the book that initially inspired us to begin this study. These trees have been added to our website. 

There is currently a Lewis DNA project on Family Tree DNA

This has 1382 members. (Sept 2022)

Our sites are being developed further regularly, but you are welcome to take a look around while we work. 

We welcome information on any Lewis individuals and families. To contribute, just contact us.

To see the trees we have already published, see our Lewis Study website's Genealogies database. Check out our FOUNDERS and TREES for information on some of our now discovered patriarchs and other founders. Many of our Lewis trees on the site are geographical. As we do more Lewis research and make new discoveries, the FOUNDER trees will grow. 

Visit our Lewis One-Name Blog to find articles on Lewis individuals and families, as well as information on our processes, plans, and discoveries.

Our website

Our blog: https://lewis.one-name.blog

Our facebook group