NameCensus.

UK surname

Ewens

A surname possibly derived from the name "Evan" or related to yew trees.

In the 1881 census there were 542 people recorded with the Ewens surname, ranking it #6,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 656, ranked #8,116, down from #6,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Yapton, Walberton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, South Oxfordshire and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ewens is 777 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.0%.

1881 census count

542

Ranked #6,362

Modern count

656

2016, ranked #8,116

Peak year

1998

777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ewens had 542 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016, ranked #8,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 672 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ewens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ewens surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ewens 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 400 #6,040
1861 historical 335 #7,610
1881 historical 542 #6,362
1891 historical 636 #6,088
1901 historical 650 #6,642
1911 historical 672 #6,279
1997 modern 728 #7,029
1998 modern 777 #6,920
1999 modern 763 #7,047
2000 modern 741 #7,171
2001 modern 724 #7,169
2002 modern 738 #7,199
2003 modern 697 #7,403
2004 modern 694 #7,456
2005 modern 672 #7,585
2006 modern 668 #7,637
2007 modern 684 #7,568
2008 modern 675 #7,687
2009 modern 702 #7,626
2010 modern 718 #7,631
2011 modern 691 #7,762
2012 modern 661 #7,966
2013 modern 676 #7,960
2014 modern 676 #8,000
2015 modern 660 #8,101
2016 modern 656 #8,116

Geography

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Where Ewens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Yapton, Walberton and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, South Oxfordshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Chichester and Breckland. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Yapton, Walberton Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
2 South Oxfordshire 005 South Oxfordshire
3 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Chichester 012 Chichester
5 Breckland 016 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ewens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ewens

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ewens, 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 Ewens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ewens 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ewens 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

Ewens 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

Ewens falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ewens 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 Ewens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ewens

The surname Ewens is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Cornwall during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Cornish personal name "Ewon" or "Ewan," which itself is derived from the Brythonic Celtic name "Jevon" or "Jevan," meaning "young warrior" or "youth."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ewens can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Assize Rolls of Cornwall, dated 1284, there is a reference to a person named Richard Ewon. Additionally, in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall from 1327, there is a record of one John Ewen.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Ewens has also been spelled in various ways, such as Ewen, Ewin, Ewan, and Ewin, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

One notable historical figure with the surname Ewens was Sir John Ewens (c. 1585-1630), an English soldier and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Sandwich in the early 17th century.

Another prominent individual bearing the Ewens surname was John Ewens (c. 1698-1768), an English mathematician and astronomer who served as the Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

In the realm of literature, the surname Ewens is associated with the British novelist and playwright John Ewens (1923-2007), who was best known for his works exploring themes of social justice and working-class life.

The Ewens surname is also found in historical records related to various place names in Cornwall, such as the village of Ewen-Venton and the hamlet of Ewen-Tregonce, which likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Ewens surname who lived in or owned land in those areas.

Another notable figure with the Ewens surname was Thomas Ewens (1805-1877), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the former St. Mary's Church in Battersea and St. John's Church in Bethnal Green.

While the surname Ewens is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Cornish roots, with various notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ewens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ewens 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. Middlesex leads with 82 Ewens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 82 1.54x
Sussex 74 8.24x
Hampshire 66 6.05x
Devon 52 4.69x
Somerset 45 5.25x
Gloucestershire 42 4.02x
Surrey 42 1.62x
Dorset 15 4.29x
Durham 14 0.88x
Hertfordshire 13 3.54x
Kent 12 0.66x
Essex 11 1.05x
Warwickshire 11 0.82x
Worcestershire 10 1.44x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Channel Islands 7 4.44x
Glamorgan 6 0.65x
Midlothian 5 0.70x
Wiltshire 5 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.24x
Derbyshire 4 0.48x
Northumberland 4 0.50x
Angus 3 0.61x
Berkshire 3 0.75x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 3.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.30x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 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. Yeovil in Somerset leads with 18 Ewens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 103.33x.

Place Total Index
Yeovil 18 103.33x
Portsea 16 7.48x
Islington London 15 2.91x
Kensington London 15 5.07x
Bristol St George 11 22.77x
Camberwell 11 3.23x
Rickmansworth 11 108.80x
Walberton 10 892.86x
Bridport 9 125.00x
Cullompton 9 185.95x
Harting 9 386.27x
Battersea 8 4.08x
Crawley 8 963.86x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 9.37x
Yapton 8 792.08x
Birmingham 7 1.56x
Crook Billy Row 7 34.50x
Cuckfield 7 77.18x
Funtington 7 346.53x
Hampton London 7 80.00x
Warblington 7 161.66x
Bristol St Paul In 6 21.56x
Cheltenham 6 7.45x
Crewkerne 6 65.93x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 6 375.00x
Hackney London 6 2.01x
Langford Budville 6 909.09x
Overbury 6 491.80x
Rumbolds Wyke 6 363.64x
Tangmere 6 1764.71x
West Ham 6 2.58x
Westminster St John 6 9.25x
Bermondsey 5 3.15x
Brighton 5 2.76x
East Stratton 5 806.45x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.74x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 19.69x
Pendleton In Salford 5 6.64x
Ratcliffe London 5 17.00x
St Helier 5 9.73x
St Pancras London 5 1.17x
Streatham 5 12.65x
Uley 5 261.78x
Westbury On Trym 5 14.13x
Axminster 4 76.92x
Aylesbury 4 28.03x
Boarhunt 4 754.72x
Compton Chamberlayne 4 727.27x
Elswick 4 6.32x
Eltham 4 37.56x
Exeter St Edmund 4 167.36x
Exeter St Mary Major 4 59.88x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 35.40x
Hardington Mandeville 4 347.83x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.53x
Milverton 4 126.58x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 12.93x
Paddington London 4 2.04x
Reigate Foreign 4 14.23x
Rogate 4 222.22x
Southwick 4 330.58x
Aston 3 0.81x
Chesterfield 3 9.60x
Dundee 3 1.63x
Dunsford 3 211.27x
Fareham 3 22.87x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.81x
Oving 3 99.01x
Ramsgate 3 10.11x
Salford 3 1.61x
South Weald 3 33.33x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.20x
St Thomas Winchester 3 38.91x
Alverstoke 2 5.06x
Bedminster 2 2.48x
Clewer 2 12.21x
Maidstone 2 3.69x
Ombersley 2 51.68x
Rotherhithe 2 3.04x
Sparsholt 2 253.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 21
Ellen 15
Emma 13
Alice 12
Jane 12
Eliza 10
Emily 8
Louisa 8
Annie 7
Caroline 6
Isabella 6
Ann 5
Fanny 5
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Anna 2
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Eda 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Agnetta 1
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Clare 1
Dianh 1
E. 1
Eileen 1
Elizth. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
J.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
George 28
John 19
James 13
Edward 11
Charles 10
Thomas 10
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Henry 7
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Robert 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
David 3
Edmund 3
Richard 3
Creasey 2
Daniel 2
Geo. 2
Amos 1
Calvin 1
Carr 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fredck.Thos. 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Hollis 1
Horatio 1
Hy.L. 1
J.W.G. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Ewens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ewens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 542 people were recorded with the Ewens surname. That placed it at #6,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ewens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 656 in 2016. That gives Ewens a modern rank of #8,116.

What does the Ewens surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the name "Evan" or related to yew trees.

What does the Ewens map show?

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