Surname Lewrey - Meaning and Origin
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Lewrey: What does the surname Lewrey mean?
The last name Lewrey is an English patronymic surname. It originated from the first name of the son of a father whose name began with ‘Lewr’ or ‘Leur’. This name derives from Middle English words meaning ‘licensed man’ or ‘man with special privileges’, and there is an additionally an Old French variant spelling of ‘Leurre’, which could also mean trickery or falsehood.
This surname might also be a locational name, deriving from Lewrey, which is now a small village in the English county of Shropshire. Another possibility is that it may have been a nickname, describing someone who acted like they had special privileges or falsely claimed to be a ‘licensed man’.
The earliest known record of the surname being used was in 1290, when William Lewry was found in the records of the county of Hereford. The surname is still common in England today, and can also be found as Newry, Lowrey,ius and Lewry.
Lewrey is a unique last name that has multiple possible origins, with the greatest use likely being derived from a locational name or a nickname given to someone. Those with the surname today can be proud of its rich history and unique meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisLewrey: Where does the name Lewrey come from?
Lewrey is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Leofric. Since surnames developed in England during the 13th century, Lewrey has been found mainly in England, and particularly in the area of East Anglia.
Today, the Lewrey surname is still prevalent throughout England, especially in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Within the United Kingdom, Lewrey is the 1,412th most common last name. Furthermore, in a United States census conducted in 2000, Lewrey was the 8,574th most popular surname.
Lewrey is a relatively common family name in today’s society. In particular, Lewrey family members can be found throughout the United Kingdom, most notably in East Anglia. Furthermore, Lewrey is also found in the United States, although it is less common than it is in the UK.
Variations of the surname Lewrey
The surname Lewrey is a variant of several other spellings, including Lawrey, Lewray, Lewry, and Leury. It is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Lewry,” which is derived from the Old English personal name Leofrēd, meaning “lover of peace.”
The surname has also been found spelled as Lewrye, Lewry, Lowrey, Lewryes, Lourie, Loorey, Loory, Lowry, Lawry, Lawrey, Lawrie, Laury, and Lorrey. A variant of the crossed-over spelling Lewree can also be found.
Surnames with similar origins to Lewrey include Louwrey, Lewryes, Lavery, Laurey, and Lauter. Other variations may include Leaprey, Lawrey, Larey, and Lauwry.
In Scotland, the surname Lewrey may be associated with the clan McGregor.
Lewreys have lived all over the United Kingdom and Ireland since the 12th century, and there have even been Lewreys in the United States since the 19th century. The most common locations for the Lewrey surname in Britain are Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Devon in England, as well as Donegal and Cork in Ireland.
The surname Lewrey also appears in a number of parish records in England, Scotland and Ireland. Several ancient records of the surname date back to 1285 in Hertfordshire, 1379 in Yorkshire, and1405 in Somerset.
Today, Lewrey is a relatively rare surname, being most common in Devon, Cornwall and Northern England. However, it is still relatively popular in Newfoundland, Canada, where many descendants of English settlers reside. There are also several Lewreys living in the United States, with the distribution of the surname being concentrated in the Upper Midwest states.
Famous people with the name Lewrey
- Jamie Lewrey: Professional mixed martial artist and boxer from England
- Joanna Lewrey: Australian visual artist
- Liam Lewrey: Actor, writer and director based in London
- Kevin Lewrey: English footballer
- Jack Lewrey: Actor, writer, director and producer from London
- Mark Lewrey: British illustrator with 25 years of experience
- Simon Lewrey: British professional golfer
- Dave Lewrey: American professional wrestlers and martial artists
- Dave Lewrey: American actor, screenwriter and producer
- Brian Lewrey: British oil painter