History of the Lewallen Family
The earliest record of the family, and probable origin of the name, comes from the 11th Century King of Wales. Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (1039-1240) became King of Gwynedd and worked to extend his authority throughout Wales. Under King Llywelyn, now called Llywelyn ap Lorwerth, Wales was eventually forged into a single political unit. This set a precedent that was to continue throughout the Norman invasion of Britain. In 1204, King Llywelyn married the English King John's daughter Joan, and was later recognized by King Henry III as pre-eminent in his territories of Wales. However, at King Llywelyns death in 1240, fighting between his sons Dafydd and Gruffudd almost destroyed all of the political strength their father had accomplished. As a result, in 1254 King Henry instead gave his son Edward control over all the Crown lands in Wales that had previously been ceded at the Treaty of Woodstock in 1247. The original situation was restored by the new Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who was recognized as the Prince of Wales by Henry in 1267. He was made ruler of the kingdom of Wales, which was again able to conduct its own affairs free from English influence. The tide of affairs then undertook a complete reversal with the accession of Edward I to the throne of England in 1272, who quickly ended the individual status of Wales.