Watkins : Watkyn / Watcyn [buy tshirt]

Watkins was a popular first name in some parts of Wales. Watkiss and Watkeys are variants of Watkins as is Gwatkin and Watkyn / Watcyn and Watkin. Watkins itself is a diminutive of Watt / Watts / Walter / Water / Gwallter / Walter.

Famous people with the Welsh surname Watkins include:

Ian Watkins – Lead singer for band Lost prophets.

Ian Watkins – Pop singer from popular band Steps.

 

Williams : Gwilym [buy tshirt]

Williams is the 2nd most popular Welsh surname in Wales behind Jones, and a hugely popular and well known surname across the rest of the world. As the Welsh have emigrated from Wales to England, the United States of America, South America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand it has spread to become one of the most popular surnames in the Welsh and English speaking worlds. Williams is the 5th most popular surname in Britain and the 3rd most popular in the U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand. The name is most commonly found in areas with Welsh heritage or where Welsh pioneers first settled.

The patronymic Welsh system of using your fathers first name as your surname meant that as William became a more widely used first name in Wales it also became to be a surname as well. Adding an ‘s’ later developed to be a popular and fashionable habit. The original Welsh form of William is Gwilym but the name William itself derives from the Normanised names Guilielm, Guillaume, Gullam, Willhelm and William which had become more popular in Wales by the 15th century. The patronymic system is still used to a varying but lesser degree in Wales so in some cases a Welsh surname will be Gwilym or ap Gwilym rather than Williams as Gwilym is also still used as a first Welsh name.

Well known people with the surname Williams include:

Tennessee Williams – Renowned writer and  playwright. Williams adapted much of his best known work for the cinema, such as ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ and is today acknowledged as one of the most accomplished playwrights in the history of English speaking theatre.

Andy Williams – Singer whose long and varied career has produced 18 gold albums and 3 platinum and is famous for songs such as ‘Music to watch girls by’ and ‘Moon river’.

Serena Williams & Venus Williams – International tennis champions (and sisters).

Robbie Williams – Ex Take That member and hugely successful solo artist. He is the best selling solo artist in Britain.

Robin Williams – Actor and comedian who has appeared in many films, notably ‘Dead Poets Society’ but not forgetting ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’.

Betty Williams – Nobel Peace Prize Winner.

John Williams – Music composer of Jaws, Star Wars, Superman, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Harry Potter.

Shane Williams – Welsh rugby player nicknamed the Welsh wizard due to his amazing agility and speed.

Kyffin Williams – Famous Welsh painter / artist.

JPR Williams – Legendary Welsh rugby player.

Oliver Cromwell – Cromwell was a fierce military and political leader best known for his overthrow of the English monarchy and temporarily turning Britain into a republican commonwealth. His family were formerly a Welsh family called Williams but changed their name to Cromwell under King Henry VIII.

 

Wyn :  Wynn / Wynne / Winn / Wyn / Gwyn [buy tshirt]

Wyn is the mutated form of Gwyn Gwynn and Gwynne (meaning white or fair) which formed to become Wyn, Wynn, Wynne and Winn.

Famous people with the Welsh surname Wyn include:

David Wynne  – A prolific Welsh composer.