Surname Lewry - Meaning and Origin
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Lewry: What does the surname Lewry mean?
The last name Lewry is of English origin, and is often associated with Lewry-derived surnames originating in Cornwall and Scotland. There are a few potential meanings for the name Lewry, and all are derived from the Old English language.
The surname Lewry may be derived from the Old English word "leof" meaning dear, thus potentially making the name "Dearry" or "Dearly". It may also be derived from the Old English words "loe" or "leaw," meaning meadow or pastureland, thus translating to Lewry, or "Meadowland" or "Pastureland." The name can also be translated to "wreath" or "garland," referring to a wreath of flowers or a victory wreath. Lewry can also be a derivative of the place name Lawery, meaning a meadow by a pond.
The most likely source of the Lewry surname, however, is the Old English word "leah," which means a clearing or a meadow. This likely transforms Lewry to a meaning of "Meadowland" or "Clearingland." The first recorded use of the Lewry surname came in 15th century England, and by that time it had spread to other parts of Great Britain.
The surname Lewry is an interesting reminder of the proud old English language from which the surname is derived. Its various possible meanings, from Dearry to Meadowland, offer a glimpse of the unique tradition behind the history and culture of many English families.
Order DNA origin analysisLewry: Where does the name Lewry come from?
The last name Lewry has a distinctly British origin and is still quite commonly found within the United Kingdom. Although there are instances of Lewry families in Ireland, the surname is primarily found in England, Wales, and Scotland. This is likely a result of the surname’s Olde English heritage; Lewry is derived from the Middle English name Leofric, which is itself derived from the Old English words “leof” (meaning “beloved”) and “ric” (meaning “ruler”).
Analyzing data from the online genealogy website Forebears, there are over 1700 individuals with the surname Lewry currently living in the United Kingdom. The majority of these individuals live in England (primarily in the South and East). There is also a noticeable presence in Wales and Scotland, particularly in the central regions. The heavier concentrations of the Lewry surname within these countries is likely a result of these countries having a longer historical relationship with the name.
Outside of the United Kingdom, there are also individuals with the surname Lewry residing in Canada, Australia, the United States, and other parts of Europe. However, the Lewry surname is still much more heavily used within the United Kingdom, suggesting that this is where the surname is from.
Variations of the surname Lewry
Lewry is a surname of British origin and was historically found in Cornwall. It is a variant of the earlier surnames Lowrey, Lavere, Lawrey, Lowry, and Lawery. All these surnames can be traced to the Old English given name Laufrei, which means ‘raven’ or ‘lion-like’.
Lewry is also spelt as Lewrie, Looary, Loweery and Lewrye. The most common variant is Lowry, associated with the Lowrys of Ulster. This can also be spelt as Lowrie, Lorry and Lourie.
Other variants of Lewry include Lavere, Lawery, Laweray, Leveray, Lawree, Lawrey, Leveree, Lereare, Lewrisk, Lewrake, Lawaree, Leawary, Lery, Leweris, Loury, Lowres, Loure, Lavery, Lawer, Louwer, and Lowrae.
Lewry is a simplified version of the French surname de Liveri or de Livery, and is ultimately derived from a personal name, such as Livier, Liviour, Liviero, etc. which is of indistinguishable origin.
The surname has also been adopted as a surname by Jews in various forms such as Lewrince, Lewer, Lowsky, lowinsky etc.
In the modern day, Lewry is now a fairly rare name; being particularly concentrated in the south west of England.
Famous people with the name Lewry
- Bruce Lewry: Former infantry Major in the Canadian Army and politician in Nova Scotia.
- Helen Lewry: British actress who has appeared in the television series Wireless and the film Kingsman: The Secret Service.
- Leonard Anthony Lewry OBE: Former British Royal Air Force officer who served during World War II.
- Mark Lewry: British politician and Member of Parliament for Eastbourne in East Sussex.
- Michael Lewry: Former Cabinet Minister in the United Kingdom and Member of Parliament from 1997: 2010.
- Stephen Lewry: British TRIPS inventor and the first to patent an automated beer-dispensing system.
- William Lewry: British artist known for his landscape and animal paintings.
- Alec Lewry: Former English cricketer who played for Cornwall in the County Championship.
- John Lewis Lewry: English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in the late 19th century.
- Ian Lewry: British Army officer who was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Somme.