NameCensus.

UK surname

Ewers

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of ewers, which are decorative pitchers or jugs.

In the 1881 census there were 328 people recorded with the Ewers surname, ranking it #9,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 733, ranked #7,430, up from #9,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wickham, Bishops, Burton-on-Trent and Ashendon with Pollecot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ewers is 765 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.5%.

1881 census count

328

Ranked #9,126

Modern count

733

2016, ranked #7,430

Peak year

2009

765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ewers had 328 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016, ranked #7,430.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 504 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ewers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ewers surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ewers 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 328 #9,126
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 504 #7,787
1997 modern 678 #7,427
1998 modern 754 #7,064
1999 modern 758 #7,087
2000 modern 746 #7,136
2001 modern 723 #7,179
2002 modern 727 #7,285
2003 modern 726 #7,175
2004 modern 735 #7,129
2005 modern 705 #7,297
2006 modern 724 #7,175
2007 modern 742 #7,117
2008 modern 745 #7,139
2009 modern 765 #7,136
2010 modern 763 #7,297
2011 modern 727 #7,482
2012 modern 711 #7,517
2013 modern 729 #7,497
2014 modern 743 #7,442
2015 modern 729 #7,492
2016 modern 733 #7,430

Geography

Back to top

Where Ewers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wickham, Bishops, Burton-on-Trent, Ashendon with Pollecot, London parishes and Dartford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Aylesbury Vale and Maldon. 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 Wickham, Bishops Essex
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Ashendon with Pollecot Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Dartford Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
2 Monmouthshire 002 Monmouthshire
3 Aylesbury Vale 008 Aylesbury Vale
4 Maldon 007 Maldon
5 Aylesbury Vale 016 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ewers

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ewers

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Ewers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ewers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ewers 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

Ewers 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

Ewers falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ewers

The surname Ewers is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "aewere," meaning a worker or keeper of cattle. This name was likely first used as an occupational surname for individuals who worked as cattle herders or shepherds.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Ewers dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Yorkshire, England. In the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, a person named William Ewers is mentioned as a landholder.

During the medieval period, the name appeared with various spellings such as Ewerr, Ewhers, and Eweherd, reflecting the regional dialects and inconsistent spelling conventions of the time. These variations gradually evolved into the modern spelling of Ewers.

One notable historical figure with the surname Ewers was Sir John Ewers, a prominent English merchant and diplomat who lived from 1496 to 1558. He served as the ambassador to the Netherlands and was involved in negotiations with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

Another individual of note was William Ewers (1703-1788), an English musician and composer who served as the Master of the Choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral in London from 1736 to 1777.

In the 17th century, the Ewers surname can be found in several parish records in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, indicating its presence in eastern England during that time.

The name Ewers has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Ewers Green in the county of Shropshire and Ewers Close in the village of Compton, Berkshire.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ewers include John Ewers (1788-1857), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes, and John Ewers (1849-1913), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ewers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ewers 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. Essex leads with 68 Ewers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.77x.

County Total Index
Essex 68 10.77x
Middlesex 54 1.69x
Buckinghamshire 51 26.37x
Staffordshire 31 2.87x
Kent 16 1.47x
Berkshire 14 5.83x
Hampshire 14 2.13x
Oxfordshire 12 6.07x
Worcestershire 12 2.87x
Monmouthshire 11 4.76x
Surrey 11 0.71x
Yorkshire 11 0.35x
Gloucestershire 8 1.27x
Leicestershire 7 1.97x
Lancashire 4 0.11x
Shropshire 2 0.72x
Bedfordshire 1 0.60x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashendon in Buckinghamshire leads with 29 Ewers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10740.74x.

Place Total Index
Ashendon 29 10740.74x
Branstone 18 1651.38x
Danbury 14 1308.41x
Burton Upon Trent 13 51.44x
West Ham 11 7.89x
Ratcliffe London 9 50.93x
Waddesdon 9 978.26x
Portsea 8 6.22x
Roydon 8 860.22x
Wickham Bishops 8 1355.93x
Clawson 7 853.66x
Earley 7 175.00x
Southcoates 7 39.77x
St Pancras London 7 2.72x
Westcott 7 2692.31x
Claines 6 52.31x
Crayford 6 125.79x
Erith 6 55.81x
Hurley 6 480.00x
Lambeth 6 2.15x
Limehouse London 6 17.08x
Mile End Old Town London 6 8.81x
Mundon 6 1714.29x
Ombersley 6 257.51x
Yateley 6 483.87x
Maldon St Marys 5 331.13x
Monmouth 5 81.57x
Oxford St Giles 5 53.02x
St Marylebone London 5 2.93x
Westminster St John 5 12.83x
Brightside Bierlow 4 6.43x
Gloucester St Nicholas 4 137.46x
Mitchel Troy 4 1081.08x
St George Hanover Square 4 7.10x
Burnham 3 128.76x
Gloucester St Catherine 3 169.49x
Orsett 3 181.82x
Toxteth Park 3 2.33x
Whitechapel London 3 9.51x
Wycombe 3 20.80x
Battersea 2 1.70x
Cowley 2 32.41x
Dartford 2 17.92x
Easthope 2 1666.67x
Forest Hill 2 1000.00x
Gravesend 2 21.65x
Hanworth 2 178.57x
Kensington London 2 1.12x
Leigh 2 350.88x
Purleigh 2 212.77x
Stanford Le Hope 2 219.78x
Beaconsfield 1 55.87x
Bow London 1 2.46x
Castleton 1 2.64x
Chipping Norton 1 21.88x
Chiswick 1 5.72x
Drayton Parslow 1 192.31x
Hammersmith London 1 1.27x
Latchingdon Snoreham 1 166.67x
Mitcham 1 10.15x
Noke 1 769.23x
Paddington London 1 0.85x
Panteg 1 27.47x
Pitchcott 1 2500.00x
Prittlewell 1 11.43x
Romford 1 10.02x
South Fambridge 1 1000.00x
St Giles In Fields London 1 6.37x
Steeple 1 172.41x
Subdeanery 1 24.45x
Sudeley Manor 1 909.09x
Thame 1 27.86x
Tidmarsh 1 476.19x
Toddington 1 42.02x
Usk 1 52.08x
Woodford 1 13.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 17
George 14
James 10
Thomas 10
Charles 8
Alfred 7
Henry 7
Frederick 6
Arthur 4
David 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Abraham 2
Eli 2
Levi 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Sampson 2
Albion 1
Allan 1
Alma 1
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Aron 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo 1
Haydon 1
Henrey 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Pharaoh 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1
Susan 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Ewers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ewers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 328 people were recorded with the Ewers surname. That placed it at #9,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ewers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016. That gives Ewers a modern rank of #7,430.

What does the Ewers surname mean?

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of ewers, which are decorative pitchers or jugs.

What does the Ewers map show?

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