UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name referring to a settlement near a hill.
In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Hewell surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #16,824 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewell is 579 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.6%.
1881 census count
131
Ranked #16,824
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1861
579 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hewell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hewell surname density by area, 1881 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 579 | #4,555 |
| 1881 | historical | 131 | #16,824 |
| 1891 | historical | 382 | #9,203 |
| 1901 | historical | 114 | #21,166 |
| 1911 | historical | 152 | #17,712 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 39 | #34,932 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell, Portsmouth, Portsea and Horsham, Sullington. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Horsham, Sullington | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hewell 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 Hewell, 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 Hewell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hewell 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, Hewell 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 Hewell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hewell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hewell originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "hæweld," which means "high wood" or "high forest." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived in or near a heavily wooded area situated on higher ground.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Hewold." This document was a census-like record compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals at the time.
During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Hewold, Hewyll, and Hewell. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
In the 16th century, the name Hewell appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that individuals with this surname had established themselves as landowners or tenants by this time.
Notable individuals with the surname Hewell include:
1. Sir William Hewell (c. 1480 - 1554), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. 2. John Hewell (c. 1520 - 1592), an English Protestant clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Exeter Cathedral. 3. Elizabeth Hewell (c. 1590 - 1662), a renowned English herbalist and author of one of the earliest English books on herbal medicine, "The Compleat Herbal." 4. Thomas Hewell (c. 1620 - 1678), an English military officer who fought in the English Civil War and later served as Governor of Barbados. 5. Margaret Hewell (c. 1650 - 1725), a prominent Quaker preacher and writer who traveled extensively throughout England and the American colonies, advocating for religious tolerance and social reform.
The surname Hewell is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hewell Grange in Worcestershire and Hewell Village in Shropshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Old English word "hæweld," suggesting that the name may have originated from individuals who lived in or near these locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewell 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. Middlesex leads with 40 Hewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 40 | 3.13x |
| Surrey | 16 | 2.57x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 10.82x |
| Sussex | 9 | 4.18x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 1.85x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.63x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 2.17x |
| Devon | 6 | 2.26x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.33x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 4.17x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.10x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.69x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 1.93x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.00x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.69x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.51x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.49x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Christchurch in Monmouthshire leads with 8 Hewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 279.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 8 | 279.72x |
| Darfield | 8 | 695.65x |
| Tettenhall | 8 | 303.03x |
| Birmingham | 7 | 6.52x |
| Clerkenwell London | 7 | 23.21x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 6.28x |
| Paddington London | 6 | 12.77x |
| Cockington | 5 | 3125.00x |
| Edmonton | 5 | 48.54x |
| Horsham | 5 | 119.33x |
| Kensington London | 5 | 7.04x |
| St Paul Covent Garden | 5 | 390.63x |
| Selsey | 4 | 1000.00x |
| St George Hanover Square | 4 | 17.77x |
| St Luke London | 4 | 19.51x |
| Whitley | 4 | 655.74x |
| Woodbridge | 3 | 150.75x |
| Chepstow | 2 | 127.39x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 2 | 17.32x |
| Farnham | 2 | 41.32x |
| Kingston On Thames | 2 | 13.37x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 7.84x |
| Manchester | 2 | 2.93x |
| Newbury | 2 | 65.15x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 15.87x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 2.48x |
| Brixton | 1 | 333.33x |
| Calstock | 1 | 35.21x |
| Chesham | 1 | 35.09x |
| Clevedon | 1 | 46.73x |
| Cookham | 1 | 33.44x |
| Croydon | 1 | 2.89x |
| Egham | 1 | 26.18x |
| Heston | 1 | 23.58x |
| Lee | 1 | 15.80x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.30x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 15.29x |
| Norwich St Mary At Coslany | 1 | 178.57x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 2.24x |
| Sanderstead | 1 | 588.24x |
| Shaw Cum Donnington | 1 | 322.58x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 1 | 18.08x |
| Upperswinford | 1 | 70.92x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 8.13x |
| Woking | 1 | 26.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hewell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alberta | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| Hilda | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Juliaetta | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lizzy | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Luza | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Norah | 1 |
| Prescilla | 1 |
| Sariah | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hewell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Hewell surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Hewell a modern rank of #35,162.
An English surname derived from a place name referring to a settlement near a hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hewell 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.