This is an ancient name of Welsh origin and derives from an Olde Welsh personal name, "Llywelyn", meaning "likeness to a leader", from the Celtic "llyw" meaning "leader" and "eilun", likeness, although there is some dispute as to the derivation of the first element, since it may also derive from "Llew" meaning "lion" or from the Celtic god "Lugh", later Luel, whose name forms the last syllable of "Carlisle", (Caer Luel). In England the name was used in the forms "Leonline" and "Lewlin", while Shakespeare's "Fluellen" in "Henry V" is an English attempt to pronounce the Welsh correctly. The modern surname can be found as "Llewellin", "Llewellyn", "Lllewelyn" and "Llewhellin". David, son of Morris Llewellyn", was christened on the 27th June 1621 at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Tudor ap Lleyelyn, which was dated 1391, in the "Extent of Chirkland", 1391 - 1393, Wales, during the reign of King Richard, known as "Richard of Bordeaux", 1377 - 1399. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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