Why are there so many Joneses in Wales? Why are there so many
Joneses in Wales? Genealogists and family historians are often
frustrated by the limited number of surnames in Wales. Why is
this so? Professor Prys Morgan, co-author of the book Welsh
Surnames, explains the reasons why... John, son of John, son of
John The Welsh only began to have fixed surnames about 500 years
ago. Before that period, 4 — 500 years ago, the Welsh simply
didn't have a system of fixed surnames at all. Well now, how did
they manage without fixed surnames, you will ask. They managed
perfectly well by everybody having a baptismal name, a first
name, just as we have today, and then they affixed to that, by a
little particle ap, which meant 'son of', they just fixed their
father and their grandfather's name and their forefathers' name
going back to about nine generations. So if you asked someone
who he was and he said, 'Well I'm John.' 'Oh that's not good
enough. I mean John who, John what are you?' And he would say,
'Well I'm John ap J