Lewis
LOO-iss
A traditional Christian name related to Louis, historically associated with fame in war.
Meaning
The excerpts connect Lewis with the French name Louis and gloss it as “famous war,” reflecting the older Germanic name tradition behind Louis/Lewis. They also note it as an Anglicized Christian name in English use. One excerpt adds that it became especially common in Wales in part through affection for the native prince Llewelyn ap Gruffyd.
Origin
EnglishGermanicFrenchWelshmasculine
Fun fact
In the excerpts, Lewis is described as the Anglicized form used for a Christian, while Lewin appears as a family-name form.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.