Criccieth Castle a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, began an uprising against English rule that spread quickly through Wales. Several English-held towns were razed and Criccieth (along with Harlech Castle and Aberystwyth Castle) were besieged that winter. Its residents survived until spring when the castle was resupplied. In the 14th century the castle had a notable Welsh constable called Hywel ap Gruffydd, known as Howell the Axe, who fought for Edward III at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. The castle was used as a prison until 1404 when Welsh forces captured the castle during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr. The
Owain T.J. Morgan). Julius Pokorny favored a purely Celtic origin, from Brittonic "*Ouo-genios"/"*Owi-genjos", "Born of Sheep", "Sheep kin" Linguists Holger Pedersen and Henry Lewis (who earlier linked the name to Gaulish *Esugenos), determined that both Jackson's and Pokorny's etymologies were phonologically impossible. Owain is one of the few Welsh names to be consistently popular over the last 100 years in England and Wales, particularly with the spelling Owen (and pronunciation //). Patronymics include "Bowen" (from "[a]b Owain") and "Owens". People with the name Owain include: Owain Owain () is a name of Welsh origin. variously written in Old Welsh as Ougein,