NameCensus.

UK surname

Hewison

A variant of the Scottish surname Hughes, derived from the Welsh surname Hughes meaning "son of Hugh".

In the 1881 census there were 720 people recorded with the Hewison surname, ranking it #5,060 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 918, ranked #6,215, down from #5,060 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitby and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Isles and Reigate and Banstead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewison is 1,033 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.5%.

1881 census count

720

Ranked #5,060

Modern count

918

2016, ranked #6,215

Peak year

1911

1,033 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hewison had 720 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,060 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016, ranked #6,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,033 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hewison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hewison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hewison 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 478 #5,213
1861 historical 403 #6,372
1881 historical 720 #5,060
1891 historical 755 #5,278
1901 historical 904 #5,134
1911 historical 1,033 #4,441
1997 modern 974 #5,617
1998 modern 1,005 #5,653
1999 modern 1,014 #5,653
2000 modern 1,002 #5,677
2001 modern 998 #5,591
2002 modern 1,031 #5,560
2003 modern 986 #5,656
2004 modern 969 #5,748
2005 modern 947 #5,799
2006 modern 933 #5,873
2007 modern 948 #5,861
2008 modern 935 #5,954
2009 modern 952 #5,988
2010 modern 967 #6,038
2011 modern 948 #6,080
2012 modern 942 #6,026
2013 modern 960 #6,023
2014 modern 938 #6,190
2015 modern 932 #6,164
2016 modern 918 #6,215

Geography

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Where Hewisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitby, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Earsdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Isles, Reigate and Banstead and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Earsdon Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 003 Scarborough
2 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
3 Isles Orkney Islands
4 Reigate and Banstead 016 Reigate and Banstead
5 County Durham 020 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hewison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hewison

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

Hewison is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hewison falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hewison

The surname Hewison has its origins in Scotland, traced back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Hughston or Hewiston in West Lothian, near Edinburgh. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old Norse personal name "Hugr" or "Hugh," combined with the Old English word "tun," meaning a farm or settlement.

One of the earliest known records of the name Hewison can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls of 1455, where it appears as "Hewysoune." This suggests that the name had already established its presence in Scotland by the mid-15th century.

In the 16th century, the Hewison family held lands in the parish of Uphall, West Lothian. The Registers of the Great Seal of Scotland mention a John Hewison, who received a charter for these lands in 1548.

The Hewisons were also prominent in the nearby town of Linlithgow. In the 17th century, James Hewison, a burgess of Linlithgow, played a role in the town's governance and was involved in local affairs.

One notable figure in the family's history is Robert Hewison (1572-1636), a Scottish theologian and minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1634. He was known for his involvement in the religious debates and controversies of his time.

Another distinguished individual was Sir James Hewison (1788-1868), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Nottingham.

In the literary world, James Hewison (1853-1913) was a Scottish poet and journalist who wrote under the pen name "Drummond Hewison." He published several volumes of poetry and was known for his works celebrating Scottish culture and folklore.

The Hewison surname has also been found in England, particularly in the north-eastern counties, where Scottish families had settled over the centuries. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the Scottish lands of Hughston or Hewiston, reflecting the family's longstanding connections to Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hewison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewison 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 245 Hewisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 245 3.53x
Durham 149 7.15x
Northumberland 72 6.91x
Lincolnshire 49 4.38x
Orkney 48 62.29x
Middlesex 44 0.63x
Lancashire 19 0.23x
Kent 17 0.71x
Surrey 13 0.38x
Derbyshire 9 0.82x
Midlothian 9 0.96x
Angus 6 0.92x
Dumfriesshire 5 3.23x
Shropshire 5 0.83x
Lanarkshire 4 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.42x
Bedfordshire 2 0.55x
Caithness 2 2.09x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.45x
Gloucestershire 2 0.15x
Norfolk 2 0.19x
Stirlingshire 2 0.77x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Essex 1 0.07x
Fife 1 0.24x
Roxburghshire 1 0.79x
Suffolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westray Papa Westray in Orkney leads with 28 Hewisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 458.27x.

Place Total Index
Westray Papa Westray 28 458.27x
Urpeth 24 591.13x
Bishopwearmouth 23 12.86x
Holywell 19 354.48x
Westoe 19 16.09x
Whitby 19 81.23x
Tynemouth 17 30.46x
Sowerby In Thirsk 16 382.78x
Winlaton 15 75.04x
Ashford 13 55.87x
North Duffield 13 1444.44x
Haswell 11 73.68x
Holm 11 426.36x
Lofthouse 11 106.18x
Normanton 11 52.73x
Croydon 10 5.28x
Middlesbrough 10 11.06x
Guisbrough 9 59.33x
Hogsthorpe 9 520.23x
Staveley 9 46.23x
Great Grimsby 8 11.25x
Hunslet 8 7.39x
Kirkwall St Ola 8 69.32x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 12.85x
Newholme Cum Dunsley 8 833.33x
St Pancras London 8 1.42x
West Tanfield 8 606.06x
York St Denis In 8 263.16x
Barrow In Furness 7 6.19x
Boston 7 20.60x
Chester Le Street 7 43.75x
Dalton In Huddersfield 7 45.02x
Eskdaleside 7 205.28x
Mile End Old Town London 7 4.70x
Ripon 7 43.48x
Thorpe St Peter 7 510.95x
York Holy Trinity 7 116.67x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.97x
Bromley London 6 3.89x
Chopwell 6 155.04x
Edzell 6 303.03x
Heckmondwike 6 26.88x
Husthwaite 6 571.43x
Leeds 6 1.53x
Longbenton 6 13.59x
Poplar London 6 4.54x
Stockton On Tees 6 5.97x
Drayton In Hales 5 40.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.32x
Edmondsley 5 224.22x
Harton 5 60.75x
Houghton Le Spring 5 34.72x
Morton 5 97.28x
Redcar 5 90.74x
St Clement Danes London 5 34.48x
Tanfield 5 20.18x
Westerdale 5 781.25x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 16.85x
Borrowby In 4 519.48x
Earsdon 4 47.17x
Everton 4 1.51x
Hammersmith London 4 2.32x
Orby 4 408.16x
South Leith 4 3.79x
Stokesley 4 92.38x
Ardwick 3 4.00x
Bromley 3 8.24x
Carlton Miniott 3 329.67x
Caterham 3 19.88x
Coxhoe 3 50.76x
Gorton 3 3.84x
Govan 3 0.54x
Ingleby Greenhow 3 319.15x
Kirkleatham 3 32.02x
Knaresborough 3 27.52x
Nether Silton 3 714.29x
Newbottle 3 26.36x
North South Gosforth 3 225.56x
Shildon 3 17.92x
York St Michael 3 300.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 25
Margaret 22
Jane 21
Ann 17
Annie 9
Hannah 8
Ellen 7
Catherine 6
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Clara 5
Emma 5
Frances 5
Agnes 4
Isabella 4
Maria 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Alice 2
Christiana 2
Deborah 2
Dinah 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Julia 2
Katherine 2
Louisa 2
Margarett 2
Anie 1
Dorathy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Georgena 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
H.M. 1
Harriat 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 52
John 47
George 35
Thomas 29
Joseph 15
Robert 13
Henry 11
James 11
Edward 10
Christopher 7
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Herbert 6
Richard 6
Albert 5
Matthew 5
Ralph 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Archibald 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
Chas. 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
G.E. 1
J.S. 1
Joe. 1
Mathew 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Septimus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hewison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hewison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 720 people were recorded with the Hewison surname. That placed it at #5,060 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hewison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016. That gives Hewison a modern rank of #6,215.

What does the Hewison surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname Hughes, derived from the Welsh surname Hughes meaning "son of Hugh".

What does the Hewison map show?

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