The Greatest Welsh Writers

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

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1 Dylan Thomas

344

Famous As: Poet & Writer

Birthdate: October 27, 1914

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Swansea

Died: November 9, 1953

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh writer and poet who published popular poems, such as Do not go gentle into that good night, which was popularized in the 2014 movie, Interstellar, where Michael Caine's character recites the poem throughout the film. Dylan Thomas achieved tremendous popularity during his lifetime and remains popular after his untimely death at the age of 39.

2 Robert Owen

184

Birthdate: May 14, 1771

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales

Died: November 17, 1858

While working as an apprentice to a clothes manufacturer, Robert Owen often spent hours reading at his employer’s library. He later explored the textile industry and led a Manchester firm. Remembered as a pioneer of the co-operative movement and utopian socialism, he improved the working conditions of factory workers.

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3 W. H. Davies

173

Famous As: British poet

Birthdate: July 3, 1871

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Newport, Wales

Died: September 26, 1940

4 Julian Cope

173

Famous As: Singer-songwriter

Birthdate: October 21, 1957

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Deri, Caerphilly Deri, Monmouthshire (historic) Monmouthshire, Wales

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5 Sarah Waters

163

Famous As: Novelist, Writer

Birthdate: July 21, 1966

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Neyland, Wales

6 Asser

143

Famous As: Monk

Birthdate: 0000 AD

Birthplace: Wales

Died: 0909 AD

7 Henry Vaughan

122

Famous As: Physician, Economist, Poet, Writer

Birthdate: April 17, 1621

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Brecknockshire

Died: April 23, 1695

8 Penelope Mortimer

112

Famous As: Journalist

Birthdate: September 19, 1918

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Rhyl, Wales

Died: October 19, 1999

9 Richard Llewellyn

112

Famous As: Novelist

Birthdate: December 8, 1906

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Saint David’s, Wales

Died: November 30, 1983

10 Margaret Oliphant Oliphant

102

Birthdate: April 4, 1828

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: June 25, 1897

11 Hester Thrale

Famous As: Author

Birthdate: January 27, 1741

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Wales

Died: May 2, 1821

12 Dafydd ap Gwilym

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1320 AD

Birthplace: Ceredigion, Wales

Died: 1350 AD

13 Arthur Symons

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: February 28, 1865

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Milford Haven, Wales

Died: January 22, 1945

14 John Evans

Famous As: Writer

Birthdate: December 11, 1960

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Pontypridd

15 Howard Spring

Famous As: Author

Birthdate: February 10, 1889

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales

Died: May 3, 1965

16 William Morgan

Famous As: Bishop

Birthdate: 1545 AD

Birthplace: Penmachno, Wales

Died: September 10, 1604

17 Thomas Pennant

Famous As: Naturalist

Birthdate: June 14, 1726

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Downing, Wales

Died: December 16, 1798

18 Dannie Abse

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: September 22, 1923

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales

Died: September 28, 2014

19 Daniel Owen

Famous As: Novelist

Birthdate: October 20, 1836

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Mold, Wales

Died: October 22, 1895

20 Elaine Morgan

Famous As: screenwriter, columnist, author, writer, feminist

Birthdate: November 7, 1920

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Pontypridd

Died: July 12, 2013

21 Alun Lewis

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: July 1, 1915

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Cwmaman, Wales

Died: March 5, 1944

22 Vernon Watkins

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: June 27, 1906

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Maesteg, Wales

Died: October 8, 1967

23 Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Famous As: Prince

Birthdate: 1120 AD

Birthplace: Gwynedd, Wales

Died: 1170 AD

24 Kate Roberts

Famous As: Welsh writer

Birthdate: February 13, 1891

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Rhosgadfan, Wales

Died: April 4, 1985

25 Catherine Tregenna

Birthdate: 0000 AD

26 Ann Griffiths

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: March 31, 1776

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, Wales

Died: July 31, 1805

27 John Ceiriog Hughes

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: September 25, 1832

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Wales

Died: April 23, 1887

28 Owen Morgan Edwards

Famous As: Historian

Birthdate: December 26, 1858

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Llanuwchllyn, Wales

Died: May 15, 1920

29 William Salesbury

Famous As: Scholar

Birthdate: 1520 AD

Birthplace: Wales

Died: 1584 AD

30 Owain Cyfeiliog

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1130 AD

Birthplace: Welsh

Died: 1197 AD

31 John Morris-Jones

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: October 17, 1864

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Anglesey, Wales

Died: April 16, 1929

32 Caradoc Evans

Famous As: Author

Birthdate: December 31, 1878

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Llanfihangel ar Arth, Wales

Died: January 11, 1945

33 Siôn Cent

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1400 AD

Birthplace: Brycheiniog, Wales

Died: 1430 AD

34 Goronwy Owen

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: January 1, 1723

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Anglesey, Wales

Died: June 30, 1769

35 Vavasor Powell

Famous As: Preacher

Birthdate: 1617 AD

Birthplace: Knucklas, Wales

Died: October 27, 1670

36 T. Gwynn Jones

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: October 10, 1871

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Abergele, Wales

Died: March 7, 1949

37 Morgan Llwyd

Famous As: Preacher

Birthdate: 1619 AD

Birthplace: Merioneth, Wales

Died: June 3, 1659

38 William Thomas

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: April 3, 1832

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Monmouthshire, Wales

Died: November 20, 1878

39 Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1155 AD

Birthplace: Unknown

Died: 1200 AD

40 Lewys Glyn Cothi

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1420 AD

Birthplace: Llanybydder, Wales

Died: 1490 AD

41 William John Gruffydd

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: February 14, 1881

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Caernarvonshire, Wales

Died: September 29, 1954

42 Gwalchmai ap Meilyr

Famous As: Welsh poet

Birthdate: 1130 AD

Birthplace: Wales

Died: 1180 AD

43 Siôn Dafydd Rhys

Famous As: Welsh grammarian

Birthdate: 1534 AD

Birthplace: Llanfaethlu, Wales

Died: 1609 AD

44 Huw Morus

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1622 AD

Birthplace: Llangollen, Wales

Died: July 31, 1709

45 John Blackwell

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1797 AD

Birthplace: Mold, Wales

Died: May 19, 1840

46 Dafydd ab Edmwnd

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1450 AD

Birthplace: Hanmer, Wales

Died: 1497 AD

47 Ebenezer Thomas

Famous As: Teacher

Birthdate: July 31, 1802

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Llanarmon, Wales

Died: February 17, 1863

48 Dafydd Nanmor

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: 1450 AD

Birthplace: Nantmor, Wales

Died: 1490 AD

49 Evan Evans

Famous As: Poet

Birthdate: May 20, 1731

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Cynhawdref, Wales

Died: August 4, 1788

Famous Welsh Writers

1 Dylan Thomas

2 Robert Owen

3 W. H. Davies

4 Julian Cope

5 Sarah Waters

6 Asser

7 Henry Vaughan

8 Penelope Mortimer

9 Richard Llewellyn

10 Margaret Oliphant Oliphant

11 Hester Thrale

12 Dafydd ap Gwilym

13 Arthur Symons

14 John Evans

15 Howard Spring

16 William Morgan

17 Thomas Pennant

18 Dannie Abse

19 Daniel Owen

20 Elaine Morgan

21 Alun Lewis

22 Vernon Watkins

23 Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

24 Kate Roberts

25 Catherine Tregenna

26 Ann Griffiths

27 John Ceiriog Hughes

28 Owen Morgan Edwards

29 William Salesbury

30 Owain Cyfeiliog

31 John Morris-Jones

32 Caradoc Evans

33 Siôn Cent

34 Goronwy Owen

35 Vavasor Powell

36 T. Gwynn Jones

37 Morgan Llwyd

38 William Thomas

39 Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr

40 Lewys Glyn Cothi

41 William John Gruffydd

42 Gwalchmai ap Meilyr

43 Siôn Dafydd Rhys

44 Huw Morus

45 John Blackwell

46 Dafydd ab Edmwnd

47 Ebenezer Thomas

48 Dafydd Nanmor

49 Evan Evans