NameCensus.

UK surname

Fewins

An English surname derived from the Old English given name "Fæwine", meaning "friend of few" or "having few friends".

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Fewins surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Exeter and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fewins is 118 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.4%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1901

118 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fewins had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fewins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fewins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fewins 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Fewins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster and Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Exeter and Cornwall. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
5 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 001 Ashford
2 Ashford 008 Ashford
3 Exeter 002 Exeter
4 Exeter 006 Exeter
5 Cornwall 039 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fewins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fewins

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

Fewins is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fewins 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 Fewins 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 Fewins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fewins

The surname Fewins is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that has since become obscure or extinct. The earliest known spelling of the name appears to be Feuins, which was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1230.

One theory suggests that the name may be derived from the Old English words "feoh" (cattle) and "winn" (pasture or meadow), indicating that the name may have originated from a place where cattle were grazed. Alternatively, it could be related to the Old English personal name "Feawine," which means "few friends" or "little friend."

The Fewins surname is not found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners in England at the time of the Norman Conquest. However, it is possible that the name existed but was not recorded or has evolved significantly over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Fewins was John Fewins, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1524. In the 16th century, the name was also recorded in Essex, where William Fewins was listed in the Feet of Fines for the county in 1598.

A notable figure bearing the surname was Sir John Fewins (1640-1717), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1698. He was knighted in 1699 and was a member of the Parliament of England for the constituency of Southwark in 1701.

Another individual of historical significance was William Fewins (1759-1825), an English bookseller and publisher who operated a bookshop in London. He was known for publishing works by prominent authors of the time, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

In the 19th century, George Fewins (1824-1907) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. One of his most notable works was the Church of St. John the Baptist in Pinner, Middlesex, completed in 1878.

Lastly, Edith Fewins (1867-1946) was a British artist and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings and illustrations in children's books. She was particularly renowned for her depictions of landscapes and rural scenes from around England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fewins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fewins 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 69 Fewins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.77x.

County Total Index
Devon 69 35.77x
Cornwall 8 7.63x
Kent 6 1.90x
Glamorgan 3 1.86x
Surrey 3 0.66x
Middlesex 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.55x
Hampshire 1 0.53x
Lancashire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 1.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rose Ash in Devon leads with 10 Fewins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6250.00x.

Place Total Index
Rose Ash 10 6250.00x
South Tawton 9 2250.00x
Exeter Holy Trinity 7 921.05x
Ide 7 3333.33x
St Austell 7 194.99x
Greenwich 6 40.68x
Exeter Alphington 4 1142.86x
Exeter St Leonard 4 754.72x
Exminster 4 579.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 26.92x
Bovey Tracey 3 447.76x
Camberwell 3 5.07x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 3 1153.85x
Bideford 2 96.62x
Islington London 2 2.23x
Moreton Hampstead 2 400.00x
Sampford Courtenay 2 689.66x
Swansea Town 2 15.12x
Aldershot 1 15.72x
Bampton 1 169.49x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 60.24x
Chulmleigh 1 227.27x
Cullompton 1 119.05x
Exeter Heavitree 1 69.44x
Fisherton Anger 1 65.79x
Holy Trinity 1 250.00x
Littleham 1 70.92x
Margam 1 55.56x
Okehampton 1 136.99x
Pemberton 1 22.83x
Saltash 1 123.46x
Sidmouth 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Amelia 1
Amlia 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Hezia 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 8
George 5
Walter 4
Simon 3
Edward 2
Henry 2
James 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Archie 1
Charles 1
Edmun 1
Edwin 1
Leonard 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Fewins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fewins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Fewins surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fewins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Fewins a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Fewins surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English given name "Fæwine", meaning "friend of few" or "having few friends".

What does the Fewins map show?

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