‘Patriœ fidus’ (Faithful to my country) and ‘Ofner na ofno angau’ (Let him be feared who fears not death)
Vortigern and Ambros watch the fight between the red and white dragons: an illustration from a 15th-century manuscript of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain.
The Lewis family, of Van in Glamorganshire, boasts a rich lineage and is one of the most ancient Welsh families. The progenitor of the family name is Sir Edward Lewis of the Van, born around 1508. Sir Edward served as the Sheriff of Glamorgan during the years 1548, 1555, and 1559, playing a significant role in local governance during a tumultuous period in Welsh history. His heritage is particularly notable; he is descended from the esteemed royal houses of Dinefwr and Gwynedd through his ancestor Ifor Bach. This connection to Welsh nobility underscores the historical significance of the Lewis family within the broader tapestry of Welsh and British history. The Lewis family is the senior line of the Royal House of Gwynedd[1]
The Plymouth estate through marriage of Elizabeth Lewis to Other Windsor, 3rd Earl of Plymouth On 7 May 1730 absorbed vast amounts of the Lewis estates after the death of Elizabeths father Thomas Lewis despite the estates being made in tail male[2] by Edward Lewis in 1674.[3][4]
Family seat
Oakley ParkSt Fagans the second Lewis family seat
The original family seat was Y Van Castle. In the 1580s, permission was given to Thomas Lewis to use stone from nearby Caerphilly Castle to build a manor house. The resulting building was known as Van Castle, Castell y Fan, or simply 'The Van'. The building was seen as an innovation of its day but its construction led to the further dilapidation of the original castle in Caerphilly. Van Castle was abandoned in the mid-18th century when the Lewis family moved to St Fagans Castle.
Sir Edward Lewis of The Van, Caerphilly, bought St Fagans Castle. in 1616 and the interior dates partly from then and partly from after 1850, when it began use as the preferred summer home of the senior branch of the Windsor-Clive family[5]
Heraldry
Traditional arms of Gwynedd
The coat of arms of the Lewis family is a silver lion rampant argent.[6]
The family has two family mottos, the first ‘Patriœ fidus’ (Faithful to my country) and second ‘Ofner na ofno angau’.(Let him be feared who fears not death).[6]
The second family motto is of note, originating from on old legend from the reign of Edgar King of England. King Edgar requested the Welsh princes to row him on his royal barge across the river dee where he had summoned the Princes. One of the Princes Gwaithwood the ancestor of Ivor refused responding with “Ofner na ofno augau “(Fear him who fears not death). The King was pleased with the response and held the Prince in high regard. The only other family to have born this motto is the Bruce family of Scotland.[6]
Ancestry
Lewis Of The Van memorial stone
The Lewis family of Van in Glamorgan, Wales, claims descent from the royal House of Gwynedd, an ancient Welsh dynasty. This lineage connects them to some of Wales' most notable historical figures, such as Padarn Beisrudd, Cunedda ap Edern,Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great), who ruled in the 9th century and unified much of Wales under his leadership and King Hywel the Great. Generations later, the family includes Ivor Bach, a powerful lord who famously defended Welsh rights against Norman encroachment by capturing Cardiff Castle in the 12th century. Through strategic marriages, the Lewis family maintained their standing, eventually connecting to other noble Welsh lineages. This royal heritage not only established the Lewises as prominent landowners in Glamorgan but also reinforced their influence in Welsh society and governance across centuries. The Lewis family of Van also claims descent from the Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, who ruled in the late 4th century AD and is known in Welsh tradition as Macsen Wledig. According to Welsh genealogical lore, Maximus married a Welsh princess named Elen, connecting his imperial lineage with the native nobility of Britain. This ancestral connection is a point of pride for many prominent Welsh families, including the Lewises of Glamorgan. He is given as the ancestor of a Welsh king on the Pillar of Eliseg, erected nearly 500 years after he left Britain, and he figures in lists of the Fifteen Tribes of Wales.[7]
The Pillar of Eliseg in Wales. The pillar's inscription and the Historia Brittonum trace the sovereignty of contemporary Welsh kingdoms back more than 500 years to Maximus.
The family maintained this distinguished heritage through strategic marriages and land acquisitions, reinforcing their noble status and linking their lineage to one of the most storied emperors of Rome. This lineage not only solidified their standing within Wales but also connected them to broader European aristocratic networks.[3]
The Lewis family of Van claims descent from William the Conqueror through a line connecting Ifor Bach, a prominent Welsh lord, and the Norman nobility. This link is established through the marriage of Ifor Bach's son, Griffith, to the daughter of William Fitz Robert, the 2nd Earl of Gloucester. The Earl of Gloucester was a significant Norman noble and the son of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, who himself was an illegitimate son of King Henry I, the son of William the Conqueror. This marriage brought together Welsh and Norman lines, consolidating land and influence in the region and embedding the Lewis family within the noble bloodline descending from the Conqueror.[1]
Wyndham Lewis, a member of the Lewis family of Van, played a significant role in supporting Benjamin Disraeli, who would become a prominent political figure and eventually Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Lewis, a wealthy landowner and a member of Parliament, was married to Mary Anne Lewis, who later married Disraeli after Wyndham's death. This connection became pivotal as Mary Anne continued Wyndhams legacy and acted as a crucial supporter in Disraeli's political career. Wyndham Lewis's financial backing was instrumental during Disraeli's early parliamentary career, helping to alleviate some of the financial burdens Disraeli faced due to his debts and political aspirations. This support allowed Disraeli to focus on his political goals, and Mary Anne, continuing the legacy of her first husband, played an active role in Disraeli's career, managing his public image and engaging in political fundraising.The Lewis family, particularly through Wyndham, helped shape the political landscape of the UK by fostering relationships between key political figures and enabling significant financial support that allowed for Disraeli's ascent in the Conservative Party who at times has been referred to as the founding father of the modern Tory party. Their contributions were part of the larger fabric of political manoeuvring during a transformative period in British history.[8][9]
The Lewis family played a significant role in the industrial development of Wales and Britain through their association with the Dowlais Ironworks, one of the largest and most influential iron production facilities in the 19th century. Founded in 1759 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Dowlais Ironworks became a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, producing high-quality iron for railways, construction, and machinery. The ironworks expanded under the leadership of industrialists like Josiah John Guest, but the Lewis family, as influential landowners in Glamorgan, were instrumental in supporting and facilitating the industry in their region. Their estates provided both the land and resources necessary to fuel industrial growth, and their investments in infrastructure helped secure South Wales as a center of British iron and coal production. The success of the Dowlais Ironworks not only contributed to Britain's industrial might but also helped transform the Welsh economy, fostering urbanization and laying foundations for future advancements in engineering and manufacturing. The Lewis family's legacy in Welsh industry is still evident in the historic significance of Dowlais and the continued impact of industrialisation on the region's economic development.[10]
The Lewis family's influence on the colonization of America is prominently highlighted through key family members who migrated to the American colonies in the 17th century. Notably, Robert Lewis, the fourth son of Sir Edward Lewis of the Van and Ann Sackville, sailed for Virginia in 1635. Upon his arrival, he was granted a substantial estate of 33,333 acres, establishing a prominent family lineage in the American colonies, especially in Virginia. This land grant and settlement laid the groundwork for generations of Lewises who became significant figures in Virginian and American history, with family members later participating in American colonial governance, landholding, and military leadership.This connection and expansion exemplified the Lewis family's early role in British colonial society, contributing to the settlement patterns, economy, and governance of early America. The family's influence is documented in multiple genealogical accounts and historical sources, showing how the legacy of the Lewis family of the Van bridged both British and American historical landscapes.[1]
The Lewis family, through their American descendants, held significant connections to prominent colonial figures, including George Washington. Robert Lewis, son of Sir Edward Lewis of Brecon and a descendant of the Welsh Lewis family, emigrated to Virginia in the early 17th century. This brancOwain ap Hywel Dda Owain ap Hywel Ddah of the Lewis family grew influential in the American colonies, with Fielding Lewis—a descendant of Robert—marrying Betty Washington, George Washington's sister. This union between the Lewises and the Washingtons created a close familial bond that would impact the early governance and military leadership within Virginia and the emerging United States. Lawrence Lewis, another member of the family and nephew of Washington, later married Nellie Custis, Washington's step-granddaughter, further intertwining the families.[1]
^Clark, George Thomas (1886). Limbus patrum Morganiae et Glamorganiae: being the genealogies of the older families of the lordships of Morgan and Glamorgan. London: Wynman & Sons 74-76, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS. p. 49.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
Dictionary of Landed Gentry Of Great Britain & Ireland By John Burke
Glamorgan, being an outline of its GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, AND ANTIQUITIES by A. MORRIS
The land of Morgan: being a contribution towards the history of the lordship of Glamorgan
The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time 1884
The house of Morgan : an American banking dynasty and the rise of modern finance
Lewis of Warner Hall: The History of a Family, Including the Genealogy of Descendants in Both the Male and Female Lines, Biographical Sketches of Its ... Descent from Other Early Virginia Families
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