NameCensus.

UK surname

Glew

A surname derived from a location name meaning "bright" or "shining".

In the 1881 census there were 657 people recorded with the Glew surname, ranking it #5,456 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,007, ranked #5,774, down from #5,456 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, North Lincolnshire and Selby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glew is 1,102 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.3%.

1881 census count

657

Ranked #5,456

Modern count

1,007

2016, ranked #5,774

Peak year

1998

1,102 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glew had 657 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,456 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,007 in 2016, ranked #5,774.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,062 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Glew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glew 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 492 #5,084
1861 historical 450 #5,752
1881 historical 657 #5,456
1891 historical 775 #5,176
1901 historical 960 #4,893
1911 historical 1,062 #4,355
1997 modern 1,084 #5,138
1998 modern 1,102 #5,255
1999 modern 1,099 #5,286
2000 modern 1,093 #5,294
2001 modern 1,053 #5,358
2002 modern 1,043 #5,494
2003 modern 1,030 #5,468
2004 modern 1,020 #5,507
2005 modern 1,025 #5,440
2006 modern 1,014 #5,498
2007 modern 1,009 #5,568
2008 modern 1,015 #5,583
2009 modern 1,024 #5,658
2010 modern 1,049 #5,652
2011 modern 1,045 #5,609
2012 modern 1,046 #5,515
2013 modern 1,033 #5,688
2014 modern 1,039 #5,681
2015 modern 1,026 #5,695
2016 modern 1,007 #5,774

Geography

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Where Glews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), St Werburgh, Sheffield and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, North Lincolnshire, Selby and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 014 Chichester
2 North Lincolnshire 020 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
4 Selby 009 Selby
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glew

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Glew is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Glew is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Glew falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Glew

The surname Glew originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "glow" or "gleow," which means "a bright or shining color." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone with red or bright hair or a ruddy complexion.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Glew appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is spelled as "Glu" in this document, indicating its ancient roots and the evolution of its spelling over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Glew, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. His bravery and loyalty to the crown earned him lands and titles, establishing the Glew family as minor nobles in the region of Gloucestershire.

In the 16th century, the name Glew was associated with the village of Glew Green in Cheshire, England. This place name likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the Glew family may have been prominent landowners or residents in that area.

Another notable figure was John Glew, a merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1567. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches and public buildings in the city.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Thomas Glew was a Royalist soldier who fought for King Charles I. He was captured by Parliamentarian forces and imprisoned in the Tower of London before being released after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

In the 18th century, the Glew family had established roots in Yorkshire, where they were prominent landowners and farmers. One member, William Glew (1722-1789), was a respected agriculturalist and author of several treatises on farming practices and crop cultivation.

These examples illustrate the long and rich history of the surname Glew, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, merchants, soldiers, and landowners. While its origins remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, the name's connection to brightness and color has endured through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glew 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. Yorkshire leads with 285 Glews recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 285 4.48x
Lincolnshire 114 11.11x
Derbyshire 64 6.37x
Nottinghamshire 46 5.32x
Middlesex 34 0.53x
Hampshire 25 1.90x
Durham 23 1.20x
Warwickshire 23 1.42x
Lancashire 14 0.18x
Sussex 12 1.11x
Surrey 10 0.32x
Wiltshire 2 0.35x
Bedfordshire 1 0.30x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Kent 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.49x
Royal Navy 1 1.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belper in Derbyshire leads with 40 Glews recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.34x.

Place Total Index
Belper 40 205.34x
Sculcoates 28 27.77x
Belton 21 503.60x
Epworth 19 396.66x
Holy Trinity 18 11.77x
Aston 17 3.81x
Fearby 15 3061.22x
Leeds 14 3.90x
North Clifton 13 3250.00x
Nottingham St Mary 13 5.81x
Thorne 13 164.77x
Market Rasen 12 209.06x
Goole 11 103.19x
Selby 11 82.77x
St George Bloomsbury 11 29.87x
Great Grimsby 10 15.35x
Portsea 10 3.88x
Althorpe 9 384.62x
Harlthorpe 9 5000.00x
Hunslet 9 9.07x
Northowram 9 20.18x
St Pancras London 9 1.74x
Wensley 9 1267.61x
Bingley 8 19.75x
Bromley London 8 5.67x
Greatham 8 493.83x
South Cave 8 379.15x
Stockton On Tees 8 8.69x
Worplesdon 8 212.20x
Derby St Werburgh 7 12.06x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 5.41x
Gainsborough 7 28.94x
West Butterwick With 7 443.04x
Bradfield 6 24.47x
Dewsbury 6 9.20x
Litchurch 6 14.84x
Manchester 6 1.75x
Pittington 6 111.73x
Scarborough 6 10.38x
Snaith Cowick 6 157.89x
South Stoneham 6 21.02x
York St Mary 6 22.78x
Birmingham 5 0.93x
Burringham 5 420.17x
Caistor 5 122.55x
Carlton 5 50.66x
Cottingham 5 36.47x
Ferry Fryston 5 201.61x
Leominster 5 143.27x
South Kelsey 5 370.37x
South Owersby 5 2380.95x
Wressell 5 609.76x
Wroot 5 641.03x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 6.75x
Blacktoft Cheapsides 4 1212.12x
Burton On Ure 4 1212.12x
Derby St Peter 4 12.50x
Duffield 4 50.51x
Hambleton 4 341.88x
Healey With Sutton 4 727.27x
Lenton 4 19.63x
Walkeringham 4 256.41x
West Derby 4 1.80x
Aughton 3 1000.00x
Barnsley 3 4.57x
Ellingtons 3 1500.00x
Hatfield In Thorne 3 75.57x
Hook 3 21.44x
Huddersfield 3 3.24x
Newington 3 17.12x
Spitalfields London 3 6.21x
St Helens 3 31.38x
Treyford 3 937.50x
York St Margaret 3 76.14x
Claylane 2 14.32x
Doncaster 2 4.30x
Hove 2 4.21x
Masham 2 85.11x
Mexborough 2 15.85x
Rufford 2 273.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 55
William 33
George 28
Thomas 26
James 17
Joseph 13
Charles 12
Henry 12
Robert 11
Samuel 11
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Francis 6
Harry 6
Richard 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Chas. 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Jas. 2
Peter 2
Wilson 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Christian 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Harriet 1
Herbard 1
Hopkinson 1
Johnson 1
Josh. 1
Laurence 1
Matthias 1
Moses 1
Nevil 1
Osborne 1
Poley 1
Rayner 1
Rd.G.Hy. 1
Rufus 1

FAQ

Glew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 657 people were recorded with the Glew surname. That placed it at #5,456 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,007 in 2016. That gives Glew a modern rank of #5,774.

What does the Glew surname mean?

A surname derived from a location name meaning "bright" or "shining".

What does the Glew map show?

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