NameCensus.

UK surname

Bewick

An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Bewick or Beauwick.

In the 1881 census there were 842 people recorded with the Bewick surname, ranking it #4,478 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,253, ranked #4,772, down from #4,478 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bewick is 1,340 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.8%.

1881 census count

842

Ranked #4,478

Modern count

1,253

2016, ranked #4,772

Peak year

1999

1,340 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bewick had 842 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,478 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,253 in 2016, ranked #4,772.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,103 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bewick surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bewick surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bewick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bewick over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 580 #4,396
1861 historical 526 #4,984
1881 historical 842 #4,478
1891 historical 897 #4,590
1901 historical 1,103 #4,377
1911 historical 1,078 #4,303
1997 modern 1,266 #4,500
1998 modern 1,317 #4,508
1999 modern 1,340 #4,470
2000 modern 1,297 #4,586
2001 modern 1,259 #4,623
2002 modern 1,290 #4,607
2003 modern 1,240 #4,676
2004 modern 1,242 #4,664
2005 modern 1,205 #4,742
2006 modern 1,234 #4,663
2007 modern 1,252 #4,647
2008 modern 1,263 #4,626
2009 modern 1,287 #4,648
2010 modern 1,313 #4,667
2011 modern 1,294 #4,664
2012 modern 1,249 #4,749
2013 modern 1,271 #4,751
2014 modern 1,292 #4,702
2015 modern 1,268 #4,742
2016 modern 1,253 #4,772

Geography

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Where Bewicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Earsdon and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
4 Earsdon Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
2 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
3 Sunderland 023 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 012 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bewick

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bewick surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bewick

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bewick, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bewick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bewick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bewick is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bewick is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bewick falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bewick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bewick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bewick

The surname Bewick originated in Northumberland, England, and is believed to date back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "beo" meaning "bee" and "wic" meaning "dwelling" or "farm", suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a place where bees were kept.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1166, which mention a "Robert de Beuuich". The Beuuich spelling is believed to be an early variation of the modern Bewick name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various documents such as the Assize Rolls of Northumberland and the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, indicating that the Bewick family had spread to other parts of England by that time.

One notable member of the Bewick family was Thomas Bewick, a renowned wood engraver and naturalist who lived from 1753 to 1828. He is best known for his iconic works, "A History of British Birds" and "A General History of Quadrupeds", which featured his detailed and intricate wood engravings.

In the 16th century, the name was recorded in the Visitation of Northumberland, a document that recorded the pedigrees of the county's gentry families. This suggests that the Bewicks had achieved a certain level of prominence by that time.

Another notable figure with the Bewick surname was Calvert Bewick, a writer and poet who lived from 1785 to 1854. He was the author of several works, including "A Treatise on the History and Art of Engraving" and "A Memoir of Thomas Bewick".

The Bewick name has also been associated with various place names in Northumberland, such as Bewick Main, Bewick Hill, and Bewick Bridge, reflecting the family's long-standing connection to the region.

While the Bewick surname is most prevalent in Northumberland and the surrounding areas, it has also been recorded in other parts of England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, likely as a result of migration and intermarriage over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bewick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bewick surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 402 Bewicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.37x.

County Total Index
Durham 402 16.37x
Northumberland 233 18.98x
Fife 51 10.44x
Yorkshire 33 0.40x
Lancashire 25 0.26x
Cumberland 23 3.24x
Angus 16 2.09x
Glamorgan 12 0.84x
Surrey 12 0.30x
Gloucestershire 6 0.37x
Middlesex 5 0.06x
Northamptonshire 5 0.64x
Kent 4 0.14x
Devon 3 0.17x
Perthshire 3 0.81x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Lanarkshire 2 0.07x
Midlothian 2 0.18x
Sussex 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 1.02x
Shropshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 55 Bewicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.10x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 55 26.10x
Gateshead 53 28.83x
Dunfermline 49 65.23x
Byker 25 41.19x
Westoe 22 15.81x
Darlington 20 21.10x
Heworth 20 41.34x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 19 17.87x
Seaton Delaval 18 166.98x
Esh 17 95.13x
Tanfield 14 47.95x
Hetton Le Hole 13 41.79x
Normanby In 13 59.47x
Weetslade 13 607.48x
Longbenton 12 23.07x
Mickley 12 310.08x
Seaham 12 134.08x
Winlaton 12 50.96x
Ryhope 11 64.52x
Tynemouth 11 16.73x
Chirton 10 35.98x
Healeyfield 10 980.39x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 15.71x
Elvet 9 50.79x
Newbottle 9 67.11x
Stamfordham 9 1168.83x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 47.22x
Brancepeth 8 179.37x
Chester Le Street 8 42.44x
Dundee 8 2.80x
Liff Benvie 8 6.89x
Broomhaugh 7 1111.11x
Broomley 7 636.36x
Chopwell 7 153.51x
Cowpen 7 24.76x
Seaton 7 84.44x
Shildon 7 35.48x
Stocksfield Hall 7 2187.50x
Streatlam Stainton 7 729.17x
Arlecdon 6 31.75x
Black Callerton 6 1363.64x
Cardiff St Mary 6 7.58x
Coldcoats 6 5454.55x
Egremont 6 35.42x
Hempstead 6 303.03x
Monkwearmouth 6 25.53x
Roath 6 9.19x
Trimdon 6 69.12x
Barnwell St Andrew 5 684.93x
Bedlington 5 12.20x
Eskdaleside 5 124.38x
Hedley Woodside 5 396.83x
Manchester 5 1.14x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 6.82x
Newton In Makerfield 5 16.67x
Sugley 5 819.67x
Waldridge 5 121.65x
Auckland St Andrew 4 61.73x
Bermondsey 4 1.63x
East Brunton 4 1250.00x
Haydon 4 59.61x
Jesmond 4 23.15x
Ogle 4 1333.33x
Plumstead 4 4.26x
Reigate Foreign 4 9.19x
Stanton 4 2105.26x
Stella 4 190.48x
Wardleworth 4 7.15x
Washington 4 38.87x
Whalton 4 434.78x
Whickham 4 17.71x
Crook Billy Row 3 9.54x
Egton 3 83.80x
Holbeck 3 5.54x
Ilfracombe 3 16.97x
North Shields 3 12.24x
Selby 3 17.55x
Tulliallan 3 47.77x
Westgate 3 3.95x
Whitby 3 10.89x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bewick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 37
Margaret 33
Isabella 30
Sarah 28
Ann 25
Jane 25
Hannah 10
Dorothy 8
Margt. 8
Catherine 7
Alice 5
Eleanor 5
Ellen 5
Annie 4
Emily 4
Barbara 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Francis 3
Martha 3
Susanna 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Hellen 2
Kate 2
Margarett 2
Ruth 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Bethiah 1
Daisy 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Effie 1
Eli 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.A. 1
Euphemia 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Georgeanna 1
Georgina 1
W.E. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bewick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 80
William 50
Thomas 39
Robert 30
George 29
James 17
Joseph 15
Geo. 8
Wm. 8
Thos. 7
Abraham 5
Alfred 5
Nicholas 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Isaac 4
Ralph 4
Jos. 3
Ridley 3
Samuel 3
Anthony 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fenwick 2
Frederick 2
J. 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Luke 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Calverley 1
Emma 1
Fredrick 1
G.B.L. 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Henderson 1
Henry 1
Jonathan 1
M.P.N. 1
Martin 1
Moses 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Rogerson 1
Wm.Arthur 1

FAQ

Bewick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bewick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 842 people were recorded with the Bewick surname. That placed it at #4,478 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bewick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,253 in 2016. That gives Bewick a modern rank of #4,772.

What does the Bewick surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Bewick or Beauwick.

What does the Bewick map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bewick bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.