NameCensus.

UK surname

Hewit

An anglicized form of the French surname Hevez meaning woodsman or carpenter.

In the 1881 census there were 476 people recorded with the Hewit surname, ranking it #7,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #7,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coldingham, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Longstone and Saughton, Cheviot West and Bankton and Murieston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewit is 771 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.2%.

1881 census count

476

Ranked #7,022

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

1851

771 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hewit had 476 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 771 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hewit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hewit surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hewit 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 771 #3,468
1861 historical 726 #3,748
1881 historical 476 #7,022
1891 historical 295 #11,255
1901 historical 240 #13,461
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 137 #25,345
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Hewits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coldingham, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Longstone and Saughton, Cheviot West, Bankton and Murieston, Murrayfield and Ravelston and North Hertfordshire. 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 Coldingham Berwick
2 Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth Huntingdonshire
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Longstone and Saughton City of Edinburgh
2 Cheviot West Scottish Borders
3 Bankton and Murieston West Lothian
4 Murrayfield and Ravelston City of Edinburgh
5 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hewit

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hewit

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hewit, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hewit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hewit household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Hewit 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

Hewit is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hewit 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 Hewit is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hewit, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hewit

The surname Hewit has its origins in England, originating in the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hiwisc," meaning a member of a household or family. This name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who was part of a prominent household or served in a significant manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Hewit is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1203, which lists a Hugo Hewit.

The name Hewit is also closely associated with several place names, such as Hewitsun in Cheshire and Hewitson in Lancashire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that individuals bearing the name Hewit may have resided in or owned lands in these areas.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Huwit, Hewyt, and Hewett, reflecting the variation in spelling and pronunciation during that time. One notable bearer of the name was William Hewit, a landowner from Nottinghamshire, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.

During the 14th century, the name continued to appear in historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, which mentions a John Hewit in 1379.

In the 15th century, the surname Hewit gained prominence with individuals like John Hewit, a merchant from Bristol who was involved in the wine trade in the 1460s. Another notable figure was Robert Hewit, a clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Carlisle in the late 15th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Hewit surname continued to be found throughout England, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts. Some notable examples include:

1. Sir William Hewit (1565-1625), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. 2. John Hewit (1614-1658), an English poet and satirist known for his work "The Mistress." 3. Elizabeth Hewit (1767-1854), an English poet and writer who published several works, including "Poems on Various Subjects." 4. John Hewit (1807-1857), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in expeditions to the Arctic. 5. George Hewit (1886-1965), an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hewit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewit 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. Lancashire leads with 89 Hewits recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 89 1.62x
Midlothian 51 8.20x
Lanarkshire 39 2.60x
Yorkshire 29 0.63x
Durham 27 1.95x
Middlesex 20 0.43x
Perthshire 16 7.68x
Berwickshire 14 24.90x
Cumberland 14 3.50x
Northumberland 14 2.03x
Aberdeenshire 13 3.02x
Glamorgan 12 1.48x
Warwickshire 12 1.02x
Norfolk 11 1.54x
Staffordshire 11 0.70x
Surrey 10 0.44x
Lincolnshire 9 1.21x
Roxburghshire 9 10.70x
Cheshire 8 0.78x
Derbyshire 8 1.10x
Clackmannanshire 7 18.25x
Devon 7 0.72x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 10.41x
Worcestershire 5 0.82x
Sussex 4 0.51x
Buteshire 3 10.66x
Fife 3 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.48x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.95x
East Lothian 2 3.25x
Essex 2 0.22x
Flintshire 2 1.60x
Kent 2 0.13x
Angus 1 0.23x
Ayrshire 1 0.29x
Bedfordshire 1 0.42x
Berkshire 1 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.80x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.25x
Somerset 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 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. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 38 Hewits recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.18x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 38 15.18x
Govan 24 6.46x
South Leith 12 17.14x
Warrington 12 18.37x
Aberdeen Old Machar 9 10.02x
Birmingham 9 2.31x
Felthorpe 9 1216.22x
Stockton On Tees 9 13.52x
Abram 8 189.13x
Cwmdu 8 81.22x
Dunblane 8 160.32x
Eccleston In Prescot 8 28.92x
Dron 7 1320.75x
Hulme 7 6.09x
Oldham 7 3.94x
Tillicoultry 7 82.06x
Barony 6 1.58x
Farington 6 186.92x
Preston In Tynemouth 6 220.59x
Roxburgh 6 372.67x
Barrow In Furness 5 6.67x
Coldingham 5 99.01x
Huddersfield 5 7.46x
Hutton 5 324.68x
Lochrutton 5 510.20x
Old Monkland 5 8.39x
Preston 5 3.39x
St Pancras London 5 1.34x
Workington 5 21.84x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 4.97x
Brandon Byshottles 4 23.11x
Claylane 4 39.56x
Crosby On Eden 4 645.16x
Droitwich St Nicholas 4 177.78x
Kingston On Thames 4 7.36x
Morthoe 4 588.24x
Salford 4 2.47x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.89x
Washington 4 69.08x
West Derby 4 2.48x
Widnes 4 10.07x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 17.95x
Aston 3 0.93x
Audley 3 19.34x
Carnbee 3 178.57x
Chelsea London 3 2.14x
Croxton 3 1578.95x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 3.21x
Handsworth 3 24.67x
Hornsey 3 5.11x
Latchford 3 44.05x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 7.27x
Potter Hanworth 3 434.78x
Reddish 3 39.53x
Rothesay 3 22.03x
Runcorn 3 12.70x
Seaton 3 64.38x
Stanhope 3 21.04x
Widdrington 3 181.82x
Burley In Wharfdale 2 49.26x
Crook Billy Row 2 11.31x
Dawlish 2 27.74x
Dunse 2 37.52x
Hartlepool 2 10.19x
Hawarden 2 20.39x
Heathfield 2 63.09x
Holy Trinity 2 1.81x
Kelso 2 23.87x
Kensington London 2 0.77x
Lambeth 2 0.49x
Langton 2 250.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 2.57x
North Meols 2 3.71x
Rawmarsh 2 12.31x
Romaldkirk 2 454.55x
Rowley Regis 2 4.58x
Toxteth Park 2 1.07x
Ulverston 2 12.46x
West Ham 2 0.99x
Worsley 2 5.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 12
Jane 9
Ann 8
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Agnes 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Ellenor 1
Emly 1
English 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Isbellar 1
James 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Mable 1
Margret 1
Minnie 1
Ruth 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 20
Thomas 17
George 16
James 12
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Charles 4
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jesse 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Alford 1
Benjeam 1
David 1
E. 1
Hamlet 1
Howard 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Nicholas 1
Ralph 1
Roland 1
Rowland 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hewit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hewit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 476 people were recorded with the Hewit surname. That placed it at #7,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hewit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Hewit a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Hewit surname mean?

An anglicized form of the French surname Hevez meaning woodsman or carpenter.

What does the Hewit map show?

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