NameCensus.

UK surname

Hewer

An occupational surname for one who cuts or hews wood.

In the 1881 census there were 594 people recorded with the Hewer surname, ranking it #5,887 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,111, ranked #5,290, up from #5,887 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Marston Maisey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Caerphilly and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewer is 1,130 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.0%.

1881 census count

594

Ranked #5,887

Modern count

1,111

2016, ranked #5,290

Peak year

2014

1,130 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hewer had 594 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,887 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,111 in 2016, ranked #5,290.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 947 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hewer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hewer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hewer 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 472 #5,269
1861 historical 488 #5,352
1881 historical 594 #5,887
1891 historical 662 #5,873
1901 historical 848 #5,369
1911 historical 947 #4,753
1997 modern 958 #5,678
1998 modern 1,051 #5,435
1999 modern 1,062 #5,428
2000 modern 1,049 #5,474
2001 modern 1,046 #5,382
2002 modern 1,075 #5,368
2003 modern 1,057 #5,355
2004 modern 1,049 #5,391
2005 modern 1,025 #5,440
2006 modern 1,060 #5,292
2007 modern 1,079 #5,265
2008 modern 1,080 #5,295
2009 modern 1,095 #5,343
2010 modern 1,128 #5,320
2011 modern 1,120 #5,297
2012 modern 1,089 #5,338
2013 modern 1,121 #5,290
2014 modern 1,130 #5,285
2015 modern 1,121 #5,267
2016 modern 1,111 #5,290

Geography

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Where Hewers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Marston Maisey and Shrivenham (Shrivenham, Beckett). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Caerphilly, Stroud and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Marston Maisey Gloucestershire
5 Shrivenham (Shrivenham, Beckett) Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 001 Copeland
2 Caerphilly 019 Caerphilly
3 Stroud 012 Stroud
4 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
5 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hewer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hewer

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hewer 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

Hewer is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hewer

The surname Hewer has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word 'heawere', which means 'a wood cutter' or 'a hewer of wood'. The name is closely associated with the ancient trade of woodcutting and lumberjacking.

The earliest recorded instance of the Hewer surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1273, where a person named Robert le Hewer is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by that time in the northern regions of England.

During the Middle Ages, the Hewer surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. These areas were known for their extensive forests and thriving timber industries, which would have provided ample employment opportunities for woodcutters and hewers.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England, there are several references to places with names similar to Hewer, such as Heworthing and Heuuorde. These place names may have influenced the development of the Hewer surname in some regions.

One notable individual bearing the Hewer surname was John Hewer (c. 1550-1610), an English cartographer and engraver who produced maps and plans of various cities and regions in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Hewer (c. 1620-1677), a wealthy merchant and landowner from London who served as the personal secretary and confidant to the famous diarist Samuel Pepys.

The Hewer surname also has a connection to the English Civil War (1642-1651). William Hewer (c. 1625-1677), a parliamentarian soldier, fought alongside Oliver Cromwell's forces and later became an influential figure in the Commonwealth government.

In the 18th century, a notable Hewer was John Hewer (1742-1819), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a captain in the Royal Navy.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contribution of George Hewer (1809-1883), an English poet and writer who published several volumes of verse and prose works during the Victorian era.

Throughout history, the Hewer surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, merchants, soldiers, and literary figures, all contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hewer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewer 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. Gloucestershire leads with 187 Hewers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.51x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 187 16.51x
Wiltshire 85 16.64x
Yorkshire 37 0.65x
Middlesex 32 0.55x
Oxfordshire 31 8.69x
Berkshire 26 6.00x
Cumberland 26 5.23x
Lancashire 18 0.26x
Sussex 18 1.85x
Hampshire 16 1.35x
Surrey 16 0.57x
Somerset 14 1.51x
Derbyshire 9 1.00x
Devon 9 0.75x
Essex 9 0.79x
Hertfordshire 8 2.01x
Kent 8 0.41x
Lanarkshire 6 0.32x
Suffolk 6 0.85x
Dorset 5 1.32x
Northamptonshire 5 0.92x
Warwickshire 5 0.34x
Cheshire 3 0.24x
Leicestershire 3 0.47x
Norfolk 3 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.57x
Herefordshire 2 0.84x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kempsford in Gloucestershire leads with 29 Hewers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1768.29x.

Place Total Index
Kempsford 29 1768.29x
Cirencester 27 176.13x
Highworth 26 398.16x
Poulton 14 1555.56x
Shrivenham 13 604.65x
Caldbeck 12 515.02x
Broadwater 11 49.26x
Lechlade 11 474.14x
Leeds 11 3.40x
Oxford St Aldate 10 266.67x
Cheltenham 9 10.30x
Quenington 9 1200.00x
South Weald 9 92.21x
Winchcomb 9 160.14x
Caldewgate 8 29.37x
Cricklade St Sampson 8 336.13x
Derby St Werburgh 8 15.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 6.87x
Fairford 8 264.90x
North Cerney 8 645.16x
Turkdean 8 1355.93x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 19.00x
Holy Rood 7 292.89x
Kingston On Thames 7 10.36x
St Albans 7 85.78x
Stratton St Margaret 7 89.40x
Wavertree 7 31.92x
Wootton Bassett 7 157.66x
Eastbourne 6 13.39x
Fulham London 6 7.16x
Govan 6 1.30x
Kensington London 6 1.87x
Liverpool 6 1.44x
Ramsbury 6 129.59x
Ampney St Mary 5 2000.00x
Birmingham 5 1.03x
Chipping Warden 5 641.03x
Coleshill 5 819.67x
Eyeford 5 4545.45x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 24.13x
Gorleston 5 27.98x
Kemble 5 526.32x
Sheffield 5 2.74x
St Pancras London 5 1.08x
Swindon 5 12.62x
Camberwell 4 1.08x
Chippenham 4 37.35x
Filkins 4 344.83x
Fritwell 4 360.36x
Gloucester Barton St 4 60.24x
Hackney London 4 1.24x
Latton 4 769.23x
Longhope 4 208.33x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 38.10x
Speen 4 56.42x
West Littleton 4 2000.00x
Whippingham 4 44.64x
Bath St James 3 30.93x
Beaminster 3 71.26x
Bermondsey 3 1.75x
Chislehurst 3 28.38x
Coberley 3 468.75x
Compton Abdale 3 714.29x
Eisey 3 967.74x
Exeter St Paul 3 126.05x
Farmington 3 566.04x
Great Yarmouth 3 4.08x
Hornsey 3 4.11x
St Cuthbert Within 3 52.08x
Tilton 3 600.00x
Wanborough 3 171.43x
Bathwick 2 19.44x
Curbridge 2 168.07x
Eastleach Turville 2 232.56x
Kilton 2 232.56x
North Cave Drewton 2 88.89x
Penrith 2 10.89x
Porlock 2 132.45x
Ramsgate 2 6.22x
Walcot 2 4.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 24
Ann 13
Ellen 13
Jane 13
Annie 11
Eliza 11
Emily 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Caroline 6
Hannah 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Fanny 5
Ruth 5
Amelia 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Amy 3
Catherine 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Isabella 2
Lizzie 2
Rosetta 2
Susan 2
Albina 1
Cathering 1
Elizh. 1
Emley 1
Ethald 1
Eunice 1
Flora 1
Henrietta 1
Huldah 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 35
Thomas 25
James 22
Henry 21
George 18
Joseph 15
Albert 14
Charles 11
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Robert 7
Richard 6
Frank 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Percy 3
Raymond 3
Earnest 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Jeremiah 2
Jonathan 2
Basil 1
David 1
Ebor. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Ernst. 1
Esau 1
Gilbert 1
Jeremia 1
Jesse 1
Jessy 1
Johnathon 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Reginald 1
Robinson 1
Rupert 1
Sydney 1
Therese 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hewer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hewer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 594 people were recorded with the Hewer surname. That placed it at #5,887 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hewer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,111 in 2016. That gives Hewer a modern rank of #5,290.

What does the Hewer surname mean?

An occupational surname for one who cuts or hews wood.

What does the Hewer map show?

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