Is it true that almost everyone in Wales has the surnames Williams, Evans or Jones?

Question

So I've been told.

I think I should have said 'Are Williams, Evans or Jones the most popular names in Wales?'. The most common surnames in Australia are Smith and Chang!

Answer 1

the top 40 most common surnames in Wales:

1. Jones - 60.57 per thousand
2. Williams - 37.81 per thousand
3. Davies - 36.76 per thousand
4. Evans - 24.66 per thousand
5. Thomas - 22.97 per thousand
6. Roberts - 17.14 per thousand
7. Hughes - 13.38 per thousand
8. Lewis - 12.96 per thousand
9. Morgan - 11.7 per thousand
10. Griffiths - 10.9 per thousand
11. Edwards - 10.33 per thousand
12. Owen - 8.85 per thousand
13. James - 7.66 per thousand
14. Morris - 7.5 per thousand
15. Price - 7.5 per thousand
16. Rees - 7.3 per thousand
17. Phillips - 6.34 per thousand
18. Jenkins - 6.23 per thousand
19. Harris - 5.79 per thousand
20. Lloyd - 5.64 per thousand
21. Richards - 5.51 per thousand
22. Powell - 4.72 per thousand
23. Parry - 4.49 per thousand
24. John - 3.65 per thousand
25. Watkins - 3.39 per thousand
26. Howells - 3.25 per thousand
27. Pritchard - 3.14 per thousand
28. Rogers - 2.71 per thousand
29. Matthews - 2.37 per thousand
30. Rowlands - 2.35 per thousand
31. Humphreys - 2.22 per thousand
32. Pugh - 2.19 per thousand
33. Ellis - 2.17 per thousand
34. Bowen - 2.17 per thousand
35. Hopkins - 2.14 per thousand
36. Martin - 1.91 per thousand
37. Bennett - 1.86 per thousand
38. Bevan - 1.69 per thousand
39. Pearse - 1.65 per thousand
40. Adams - 1.61 per thousand

Answer 2

After Smith, Williams is the most common surname in the UK, so I guess a lot of them are in Wales. My Welsh ancestors have both Williams and Evans as surnames - no Jones found yet.

Answer 3

The concept of last names being transgenerational (your kids have the same last name as you and you pass it on) has only been around for a few centuries. Before then surnames were usually a way to identify an individual. The most common use of surnames were to indicate someone as his fathers son. Thus Williams, Evans, and Jones originally meant "son of William", "son of Evan" and "son of John". As William, Evan, and John are among the most common first names, it makes sense that Williams, Evan, and Jones would be the most common surnames.

(Other common surname conventions were occupations, or geographical locations.)

Answer 4

My uncle was from Wales and his last name was Carter. It could just be that those names are the most common ones listed like Smith is here. My cousins who still live in Wales are named Punter and Robinson. So there are other Welsh names.

Answer 5

I live in Wales my surname is Delve my neighbours include a Darling a Cannon a Greenaway a Harris and a Wozencroft

Answer 6

No, that's a bit of a silly idea really. Imagine the confusion!
It is true that those names are common- just look at the line up for the welsh rugby team, lots of Jones'.

My Boyf is Welsh though and he has none of those names neither do most of his friends back home.
Tut tut, silly question!

Answer 7

No. My friend is Welsh and her surname was Smith (before she got married). Although the guy she married (who was English and a LONDONER!!) surname was Evans.
How about that !!!

Answer 8

And George.
and Richard Burton.

Answer 9

Certainly not. Jim Davis from Wales is one of my good frieds.--Vanithasdad

Answer 10

And Thomas.