Surname Goronwy - Meaning and Origin
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Goronwy: What does the surname Goronwy mean?
Goronwy is a Welsh patronymic surname derived from the Welsh personal name "Goronwy", which means “God’s Gift”. It is an old Welsh given name from the 8th century, and is found in genealogies stretching back to ancient Welsh kings. Over time, the surname became interwoven into Welsh-language epics, including the medieval poem, “Gododdin”, which commemorates the bravery of a group of mainly Welsh warriors.
The original spelling Goronwy corresponds to the Welsh goron (meaning "champion") and gwiw (meaning ”bless"). Over time, the surname has appeared in spellings such as Goronwy, Goronwry, Gornwry, Garonwry and Garonwy.
The surname Goronwy is not uncommon in Wales, although in England the surname is virtually unknown. Many famous people have the name Goronwy, from Welsh government officials to religious clerics to poets and musicians.
Goronwy is thought to be derived from a god, and as such, it is often associated with strength, honor, and courage. The name is also said to bring its bearer luck, even though this is not the traditional meaning of the word.
Many families are proud of their Goronwy heritage and continue to pass the name down to their descendants. It is a name that is continually evolving to fit modern conventions, even though its original meaning remains clear: Goronwy is an ancient Welsh name that symbolizes “the protection from God”.
Order DNA origin analysisGoronwy: Where does the name Goronwy come from?
The surname Goronwy is commonly found in Wales, particularly in the region of North Wales. As of 2018, around 500 people in Wales had the last name, making it one of the more common Welsh surnames. The name is derived from the Welsh first name, Goronwy, and may have first been coined in the 12th century. It is highly likely that many of those with this surname today are descended from the ancient Welsh royal lineages of Gwynedd, Powys, and Dyffryn Clwyd. It is also possible that they may be descended from the Norman lords associated with those areas.
This surname can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly in countries that were once part of the British Empire, such as Australia and Canada. There, it is considerably rarer, though it can still be sporadically found in family histories.
The name itself may have varied slightly over the centuries. In some cases, it has been shortened or hybridized into other forms, such as ‘Goron’, ‘Garon’, or ‘Goran’.
Variations of the surname Goronwy
GORONWY is a Welsh surname that originates from the popular Welsh given name, Goronwy. The name is derived from Irish and can be roughly translated to meaning "hound of courage," or "bold heart".
Variants of GORONWY include Goronoey, GORONOI, Goronwy, Goronway, Goronowy, Goronwee, Goronwyee, Goronwye, Goronwoue, Goronwyi, Goronwyy, Gorony.
Spellings of GORONWY include Garonwy, Garnerwye, Garnorwy, Garonee, and Garnoue.
Surnames of similar origin include Garmon, Garman, Garon, Garnon, Garoun, and Garnon.
GORONWY is also a Welsh boy name meaning 'dapple gray'. It is sometimes referred to as a variant of Goronwy or an anglicized form of the Irish name, Cormac.
In addition, GORONWY can be seen in Scots and Northern Irish place names. Examples include Goronwy in Wigtownshire, which means "heathery moor" and Gaeronwy in County Down, which means "white ridge".
Overall, the surname GORONWY has many different spellings, variants, and similar surnames of diverse origin due to its transcultural roots.
Famous people with the name Goronwy
- Goronwy Owen—Welsh poet, literary critic and Anglican priest
- Goronwy Rees—Welsh journalist and spy
- Goronwy Roberts—Welsh lawyer, judge and politician
- Goronwy Wynne—Welsh Protestant priest and translator of hymns
- Goronwy Jones—Welsh scholar and copyist
- Goronwy Griffiths—Welsh archaeologist and antiquarian
- Goronwy Parry—Welsh-born novelist and screenwriter
- Goronwy Prys—Welsh theologian and poet
- Goronwy Edwards—Welsh farmer and Labour Party politician
- Goronwy Evans—Welsh journalist, author and broadcaster