How common is your surname?
How common is your surname?
The fact is everybody will have a ‘common’ surname somewhere in their family tree. I’m currently researching for those Welsh ancestors. This branch is made very difficult by them having ‘common’ surnames.
The top 20 surnames in Wales are:
- Jones (5.75)
- Williams (3.72)
- Davies (3.72)
- Evans (2.47)
- Thomas (2.43)
- Roberts (1.53)
- Lewis (1.53)
- Hughes (1.23)
- Morgan (1.16)
- Griffiths (0.96)
- Edwards (0.93)
- Smith (0.85)
- James (0.82)
- Rees (0.81)
- Jenkins (0.69)
- Owen (0.67)
- Price (0.67)
- Phillips (0.65)
- Moss (0.63)
- Richards (0.55)
(Source: Wikipedia) The numbers in brackets indicate percentages.
Of the top 20 surnames in Wales, I have 9 of them in my Welsh direct ancestors. Frustratingly, my Welsh ancestors didn’t seem to like middle names and originality with forenames wasn’t one of their strong points either.
I am currently trawling the Glamorgan Census returns for my great great grandfather, William Williams. William was born around 1883 in Porth, Glamorganshire. He married Harriett Ann Weeks in 1903 in Monmouthshire.
Before 1903, William Williams is extremely difficult to locate. His father was also William Williams. Looking for a William Williams born around 1883 whose father was also a William Williams is difficult to say the least.
I may never trace this side of the family back any further but I want to know which of these common surnames did your Welsh ancestors have?
