UK surname
A Scottish surname possibly derived from the French name Huet.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Hewatt surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewatt is 120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
120 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hewatt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hewatt surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 49 | #30,349 |
| 1901 | historical | 12 | #32,772 |
| 1911 | historical | 7 | #33,083 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Astbury, Wingfield, North and Govan Combination. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Astbury | Cheshire |
| 4 | Wingfield, North | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hewatt surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hewatt, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hewatt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hewatt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hewatt is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hewatt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hewatt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HEWATT is of Scottish origin, originating in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "huw," meaning a ridge or hill. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname HEWATT can be found in the 13th century Scottish records, often spelled as "Hewat" or "Hewett." One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Hewat, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish charters and records, with spellings such as "Hewatt," "Hewet," and "Hewit." One notable bearer of the name during this period was Sir Robert Hewat, a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English.
The HEWATT surname was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Borders region, where it is believed to have originated. Some early place names associated with the surname include Hewat's Lands in Roxburghshire and Hewatton in Berwickshire.
In the 16th century, the HEWATT surname gained prominence with the birth of James Hewatt (1513-1588), a Scottish poet and clergyman who served as the minister of the Tron Kirk in Edinburgh. Another notable individual with the surname was Sir John Hewatt (1614-1663), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the HEWATT surname spread throughout Scotland and beyond, with bearers of the name settling in England, Ireland, and North America. One noteworthy individual from this period was Peter Hewatt (1695-1771), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Merchants' Hall and the Royal Exchange.
Other notable individuals with the HEWATT surname include Sir John Hewatt (1789-1854), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, and James Hewatt (1801-1865), a Scottish writer and journalist who worked for the Glasgow Herald.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewatt surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 3 Hewatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 3 | 15.25x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 7.93x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 70.92x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 3.80x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 1.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Combe Fields in Warwickshire leads with 3 Hewatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Combe Fields | 3 | 0.00x |
| Govan | 2 | 32.05x |
| Gate Fulford | 1 | 555.56x |
| Kelso | 1 | 714.29x |
| Stafford St Mary | 1 | 270.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hewatt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Rhoda | 1 |
| W.A. | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Hewatt surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Hewatt a modern rank of #38,825.
A Scottish surname possibly derived from the French name Huet.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hewatt bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.