NameCensus.

UK surname

Ewings

From the Old English personal name Eawine meaning "prosperous friend."

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Ewings surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 325, ranked #13,930, down from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, The Vale of Glamorgan and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ewings is 351 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.8%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

325

2016, ranked #13,930

Peak year

1999

351 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ewings had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016, ranked #13,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ewings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ewings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ewings 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 325 #12,832
1998 modern 345 #12,649
1999 modern 351 #12,582
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 351 #12,583
2003 modern 330 #12,971
2004 modern 328 #13,058
2005 modern 328 #12,992
2006 modern 331 #12,990
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 317 #13,632
2009 modern 315 #13,960
2010 modern 329 #13,818
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 323 #14,003
2014 modern 330 #13,889
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 325 #13,930

Geography

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Where Ewings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Paddington and Sandford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, The Vale of Glamorgan, Rochdale and Carlisle. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sandford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 005 West Devon
2 West Devon 006 West Devon
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Rochdale 023 Rochdale
5 Carlisle 011 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ewings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ewings

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ewings is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ewings is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ewings falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ewings is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ewings

The surname Ewings is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "eowung," which means "a meadow by a river." The name is believed to have originated in the county of Staffordshire, where the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Ewynges, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English government during the medieval period, and their inclusion of the name suggests that the Ewings family had already established itself as a notable presence in the region.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Ewings, Ewinges, Ewings, and Ewing. These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling in earlier times, as well as the influence of regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 16th century, the Ewings surname is recorded in the parish registers of several villages in Staffordshire, such as Eccleshall and Brewood. This further solidifies the family's deep roots in the area and their status as a respected local lineage.

One notable figure in the history of the Ewings surname is John Ewing (1732-1802), a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister and educator who played a significant role in the early development of higher education in the United States. He served as the principal of the Ewing School, later known as the University of Pennsylvania, and was instrumental in shaping the institution's curriculum and philosophy.

Another prominent individual bearing the Ewings surname is Thomas Ewing (1789-1871), an American lawyer, politician, and Cabinet member. He served as a United States Senator from Ohio and held several important positions in the federal government, including Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of the Interior under Presidents William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor.

In the literary realm, the Ewings surname is associated with James Ewing (1866-1935), a Scottish poet and writer who gained recognition for his works celebrating the landscapes and people of his native Ayrshire. His collection of poems, "The Thistles on the Brae," is considered a notable contribution to Scottish literature.

The Ewings surname also has a connection to the world of sports through the figure of Patrick Ewing (born 1962), a legendary American basketball player. He enjoyed a successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing for the New York Knicks and the Seattle SuperSonics, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Finally, it is worth mentioning James Ewing (1736-1806), a Scottish-American soldier and surveyor who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a captain in the Continental Army and later worked as a surveyor, contributing to the mapping and exploration of the western territories of the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ewings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ewings 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. Devon leads with 78 Ewings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.50x.

County Total Index
Devon 78 19.50x
Middlesex 43 2.24x
Surrey 18 1.92x
Durham 9 1.57x
Midlothian 9 3.50x
Lancashire 7 0.31x
Ayrshire 6 4.17x
Cumberland 5 3.02x
Kent 4 0.61x
Leicestershire 3 1.41x
Yorkshire 3 0.16x
Derbyshire 2 0.66x
Lanarkshire 2 0.32x
Somerset 2 0.65x
Fife 1 0.88x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Hertfordshire 1 0.75x
Royal Navy 1 4.37x
Wigtownshire 1 3.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandford in Devon leads with 14 Ewings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Sandford 14 1428.57x
Exeter St Sidwell 13 141.92x
Gateshead 8 18.69x
Whitestone 8 2666.67x
Crediton 7 184.70x
Islington London 7 3.76x
Paddington London 7 9.91x
St Luke London 7 22.71x
St Pancras London 7 4.53x
Topsham 7 370.37x
Battersea 5 7.07x
Caldewgate 5 55.13x
Morchard Bishop 5 602.41x
Newington 5 7.04x
Old Cumnock 5 156.25x
Penicuik 5 142.86x
Silverton 5 602.41x
Duddingston 4 77.37x
Hornsey 4 16.46x
Ipplepen 4 740.74x
Chelsea London 3 5.18x
Dawlish 3 100.67x
Deptford St Paul 3 5.93x
Lambeth 3 1.79x
Leicester St Margaret 3 5.77x
Ottery St Mary 3 114.50x
Salford 3 4.47x
St Margaret Lothbury 3 3750.00x
Clevedon 2 62.11x
Great Longstone With 2 625.00x
Habergham Eaves 2 9.60x
Hamilton 2 11.54x
Newton St Cyres 2 357.14x
Reigate Foreign 2 19.72x
Richmond 2 67.11x
Westminster St Margaret 2 21.58x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.20x
Cheltenham 1 3.44x
Chipping Barnet 1 43.10x
Collierley 1 39.22x
Croydon 1 1.92x
Dunfermline 1 5.72x
East Worlington 1 714.29x
Exeter Heavitree 1 33.56x
Exeter St Paul 1 126.58x
Exminster 1 69.44x
Farnborough 1 24.15x
Farnham 1 13.74x
Fulwood 1 40.65x
Greenwich 1 3.27x
Hackney London 1 0.93x
Hammersmith London 1 2.11x
Huyton With Roby 1 37.45x
Inch 1 40.16x
Kilmarnock 1 5.84x
Lapford 1 256.41x
Lifton 1 104.17x
Littleham 1 34.25x
Lofthouse 1 35.21x
Royal Navy 1 5.11x
Woking 1 17.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 8
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Ethel 2
Selina 2
Agnes 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eliz 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Evelina 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Janne 1
Jeanette 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Jessy 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
My.Ann 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Rosaline 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Walter 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 12
James 11
George 9
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Henry 3
Wm. 3
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Alfd.Chs. 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Humphry 1
Lewis 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Susan 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Wm.Ford 1

FAQ

Ewings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ewings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Ewings surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ewings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016. That gives Ewings a modern rank of #13,930.

What does the Ewings surname mean?

From the Old English personal name Eawine meaning "prosperous friend."

What does the Ewings map show?

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