NameCensus.

UK surname

Clewett

A toponymic surname derived from an English place name referring to a cleft or ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Clewett surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, West Dorset and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clewett is 141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

1911

141 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clewett had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Clewett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clewett surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Clewett 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 126 #24,860
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

Back to top

Where Clewetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, St Philip and Jacob and Woolverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, West Dorset, West Somerset and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Woolverton Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 100 Birmingham
2 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
3 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
4 North East Lincolnshire 010 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 014 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Clewett

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Clewett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clewett, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Clewett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clewett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Clewett is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clewett is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clewett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clewett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clewett

The surname Clewett has its origins in England, first appearing in records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cleowen," which meant a rock or cliff. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or on a rocky terrain or cliff.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Clewett surname can be found in the parish records of Gloucestershire, where a John Clewett was listed in 1587. The name also appears in various spellings, such as Clewitt, Cluett, and Cluit, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that time.

Interestingly, the Clewett name has been linked to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. For example, the village of Clewett in Somerset may have been named after an early bearer of the surname who resided or owned land there.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Clewett surname. One such person was William Clewett (1619-1687), an English merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1677. Another was John Clewett (1638-1714), a Quaker minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the 18th century, the Clewett name gained prominence with the birth of John Clewett (1757-1838), a noted English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Bath and the surrounding areas. His son, William Clewett (1797-1879), followed in his footsteps and became a respected architect in his own right.

Moving into the 19th century, the Clewett family continued to make its mark, with individuals such as Samuel Clewett (1816-1892), a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Bristol, and Mary Clewett (1845-1922), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

While the Clewett surname may not be as common as some others, its rich history and connections to various regions of England make it a fascinating subject of study for those interested in onomastics and genealogy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Clewett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clewett 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. Somerset leads with 18 Clewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.49x.

County Total Index
Somerset 18 13.49x
Cheshire 11 6.01x
Shropshire 9 12.56x
Gloucestershire 8 4.92x
Buckinghamshire 7 13.97x
Middlesex 7 0.84x
Dorset 5 9.19x
Staffordshire 5 1.79x
Berkshire 4 6.43x
Hampshire 3 1.77x
Surrey 2 0.50x
Kent 1 0.35x
Pembrokeshire 1 3.80x
Sussex 1 0.72x
Wiltshire 1 1.36x
Worcestershire 1 0.92x
Yorkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wincanton in Somerset leads with 16 Clewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2318.84x.

Place Total Index
Wincanton 16 2318.84x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 9 428.57x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 52.25x
Bradwell 5 704.23x
Rowley Regis 5 64.10x
Shrewsbury St Mary 5 176.68x
Shalbourn 4 1739.13x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 159.36x
Shaftesbury St Peter 3 1200.00x
St Paul Covent Garden 3 361.45x
Holdenhurst 2 44.84x
St Martin In Fields 2 40.32x
Tranmere 2 29.72x
Windlesham 2 263.16x
Wolverton 2 192.31x
Bratton Seymour 1 5000.00x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 227.27x
Haverfordwest St Mary 1 263.16x
Kidbrooke 1 625.00x
Lamberhurstsussex 1 555.56x
Little Bedwyn 1 714.29x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 28.65x
South Stoneham 1 27.10x
St Marylebone London 1 2.26x
Upperswinford 1 108.70x
Warmfield Cum Heath 1 357.14x
Westminster St John 1 9.90x
Weymouth 1 97.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Clewett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clewett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Clewett surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clewett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Clewett a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Clewett surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from an English place name referring to a cleft or ridge.

What does the Clewett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clewett 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.