NameCensus.

UK surname

Drewett

A surname derived from the place name Drayton, meaning "Draa's farm".

In the 1881 census there were 811 people recorded with the Drewett surname, ranking it #4,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,205, ranked #4,935, down from #4,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edington, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Mitcham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Doncaster and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drewett is 1,328 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

811

Ranked #4,607

Modern count

1,205

2016, ranked #4,935

Peak year

1999

1,328 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Drewett had 811 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,205 in 2016, ranked #4,935.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Drewett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Drewett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drewett 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 649 #4,011
1861 historical 457 #5,681
1881 historical 811 #4,607
1891 historical 853 #4,797
1901 historical 1,104 #4,373
1911 historical 1,220 #3,872
1997 modern 1,180 #4,783
1998 modern 1,323 #4,488
1999 modern 1,328 #4,507
2000 modern 1,296 #4,594
2001 modern 1,253 #4,639
2002 modern 1,261 #4,701
2003 modern 1,224 #4,723
2004 modern 1,236 #4,683
2005 modern 1,217 #4,701
2006 modern 1,198 #4,778
2007 modern 1,190 #4,846
2008 modern 1,187 #4,879
2009 modern 1,235 #4,824
2010 modern 1,263 #4,837
2011 modern 1,262 #4,780
2012 modern 1,215 #4,861
2013 modern 1,235 #4,875
2014 modern 1,240 #4,871
2015 modern 1,213 #4,927
2016 modern 1,205 #4,935

Geography

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Where Drewetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edington, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mitcham, London parishes and Kingston-on-Thames. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Doncaster, Wealden and Wiltshire. 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 Edington Wiltshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Mitcham Surrey
4 London parishes London 1
5 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 032 County Durham
2 Doncaster 032 Doncaster
3 Wealden 018 Wealden
4 Wiltshire 037 Wiltshire
5 County Durham 036 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drewett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drewett

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Drewett is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Drewett 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

Drewett 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 Drewett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Drewett

The surname Drewett has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "drēog" and "ġewāt," which together translate to "dry road" or "dry path." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a topographic descriptor for someone who lived near or on a dry road or path.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that include variations of the name, such as "Drewet" and "Druet." These early spellings provide insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Drewett was Ralph Drewett, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191. Another notable figure was John Drewett, a prominent merchant and landowner in Somerset during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Drewett appeared in various parish records across southern England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. This suggests that the name may have been concentrated in these areas during this period.

Among the more notable individuals with the surname Drewett throughout history are:

1. Sir Robert Drewett (c. 1570-1638), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Hindon in Wiltshire during the early 17th century.

2. Thomas Drewett (c. 1600-1669), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Dorset, known for his involvement in the English Civil War and his role as a financier for the Parliamentary cause.

3. Jane Drewett (c. 1650-1720), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Somerset, who published several religious works during her lifetime.

4. William Drewett (1725-1798), a notable architect and builder from Wiltshire, known for his work on various churches and country houses in the region.

5. Sir Henry Drewett (1789-1868), a British naval officer and explorer, who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later led several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

While the surname Drewett has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Drewett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Drewett 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. Wiltshire leads with 202 Drewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.80x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 202 28.80x
Surrey 127 3.29x
Berkshire 72 12.09x
Middlesex 60 0.76x
Oxfordshire 58 11.84x
Somerset 52 4.07x
Kent 40 1.48x
Gloucestershire 35 2.25x
Hampshire 31 1.91x
Sussex 22 1.65x
Yorkshire 17 0.22x
Essex 12 0.77x
Perthshire 11 3.09x
Bedfordshire 10 2.44x
Staffordshire 10 0.37x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.67x
Cornwall 8 0.89x
Lancashire 7 0.07x
Midlothian 7 0.66x
Lanarkshire 6 0.23x
Angus 4 0.54x
Leicestershire 4 0.45x
Devon 2 0.12x
Hertfordshire 2 0.37x
Northumberland 2 0.17x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edington in Wiltshire leads with 57 Drewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2252.96x.

Place Total Index
Edington 57 2252.96x
Fittleton 24 2553.19x
Bermondsey 22 9.32x
Kingston On Thames 20 21.54x
Cholsey 18 382.17x
Westbury 17 103.85x
Headington 15 197.37x
Bedminster 14 11.67x
Hammersmith London 12 6.14x
Whitby 12 45.32x
Calne 11 76.18x
Hannington 11 1447.37x
Mitcham 11 45.05x
Walthanstow 11 423.08x
Bromley 10 24.25x
Camberwell 10 1.97x
Dunning 10 224.72x
Harborne 10 11.66x
Islington London 10 1.30x
Luton 10 14.07x
Maidstone 10 12.41x
Paddington London 10 3.43x
Reading St Giles 10 17.12x
Walton On Thames 10 56.37x
West Ashton 10 1204.82x
Lewisham 9 6.24x
Newington 9 3.07x
Stoke 9 49.37x
Boxford 8 519.48x
Enford 8 336.13x
Figheldean 8 634.92x
Henley On Thames 8 79.76x
New Windsor 8 39.98x
Trowbridge 8 25.81x
Burbage 7 195.53x
Chippenham 7 47.59x
Chitterne All Sts 7 598.29x
Clevedon 7 52.75x
Edinburgh Greenside 7 49.86x
Keynsham 7 76.34x
Oxford St Thomas 7 30.62x
Reading St Lawrence 7 54.99x
Shalford 7 163.55x
St Just In Penwith 7 40.18x
Cookham 6 32.33x
Easton 6 681.82x
Farlington 6 180.72x
Guildford St Mary 6 126.32x
Hailsham 6 74.17x
Iffley 6 145.28x
Laycock 6 188.68x
Patney 6 1538.46x
Southwark St Saviour 6 14.72x
Stonehouse 6 67.87x
Walcot 6 8.82x
Abbots Leigh 5 505.05x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 5 17.52x
Bristol St James In 5 21.86x
Bristol St Paul In 5 12.07x
Chirton 5 543.48x
Gillingham 5 8.96x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 49.80x
Govan 5 0.79x
Northmoor 5 617.28x
Oxford St Giles 5 21.40x
Stoke Poges 5 85.47x
Acton 4 8.60x
Alverstoke 4 6.80x
Battersea 4 1.37x
Brighton 4 1.48x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.14x
Clifton 4 5.09x
Lambeth 4 0.58x
Long Ashton 4 63.19x
Oldham 4 1.32x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 27.74x
Painswick 4 36.36x
Sherston Magna 4 94.56x
Steyning 4 88.30x
Wellow 4 106.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 65
John 37
George 35
Henry 26
James 21
Thomas 18
Charles 14
Albert 12
Frank 12
Frederick 11
Harry 11
Arthur 10
Edward 9
Ernest 9
Walter 9
Joseph 8
Herbert 5
Alfred 4
Fredk. 4
Job 4
Percy 4
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Jesse 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Edwd. 2
Frederic 2
Mark 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Benjaman 1
Benjamin 1
Drewett 1
Earnest 1
Eranest 1
Felix 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Isaaic 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Joh 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Worthey 1

FAQ

Drewett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Drewett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 811 people were recorded with the Drewett surname. That placed it at #4,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Drewett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,205 in 2016. That gives Drewett a modern rank of #4,935.

What does the Drewett surname mean?

A surname derived from the place name Drayton, meaning "Draa's farm".

What does the Drewett map show?

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