NameCensus.

UK surname

Hewitson

A surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England meaning "Hugh's town".

In the 1881 census there were 1,763 people recorded with the Hewitson surname, ranking it #2,452 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,263, ranked #2,867, down from #2,452 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Wigton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, County Durham and Cumnock Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hewitson is 2,308 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.4%.

1881 census count

1,763

Ranked #2,452

Modern count

2,263

2016, ranked #2,867

Peak year

2014

2,308 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hewitson had 1,763 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,452 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,263 in 2016, ranked #2,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,180 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hewitson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hewitson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hewitson 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 818 #3,289
1861 historical 940 #2,950
1881 historical 1,763 #2,452
1891 historical 1,723 #2,636
1901 historical 2,180 #2,471
1911 historical 2,092 #2,394
1997 modern 2,179 #2,842
1998 modern 2,230 #2,888
1999 modern 2,187 #2,955
2000 modern 2,195 #2,930
2001 modern 2,153 #2,922
2002 modern 2,204 #2,914
2003 modern 2,167 #2,904
2004 modern 2,190 #2,877
2005 modern 2,154 #2,885
2006 modern 2,133 #2,908
2007 modern 2,171 #2,890
2008 modern 2,164 #2,926
2009 modern 2,244 #2,900
2010 modern 2,273 #2,928
2011 modern 2,267 #2,897
2012 modern 2,237 #2,882
2013 modern 2,282 #2,875
2014 modern 2,308 #2,858
2015 modern 2,277 #2,862
2016 modern 2,263 #2,867

Geography

Back to top

Where Hewitsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Wigton, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, County Durham, Cumnock Rural and Allerdale. 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 Allendale Northumberland
3 Wigton Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 007 Copeland
2 County Durham 044 County Durham
3 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 County Durham 040 County Durham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hewitson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hewitson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Hewitson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hewitson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hewitson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hewitson 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

Hewitson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hewitson

The surname Hewitson has its origins in England, emerging in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from two Old English words, "hewet" meaning "wound" or "scar," and "son" signifying "son of." This suggests that the name originally referred to the son of someone who bore a distinctive scar or wound.

Hewitson is a variant spelling of the more common surname Hewetson, which was documented in various historical records from the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199, where a certain William Hewetson is mentioned.

The surname Hewitson can be traced back to several regions in northern England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some records indicate that the name was also present in certain areas of Scotland, possibly due to migration from England.

In the 13th century, a family bearing the name Hewitson was documented in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a survey of landowners conducted in 1273. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Hewitson throughout history include: 1. Sir Thomas Hewitson (1615-1688), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire. 2. John Hewitson (1776-1853), a Scottish poet and author known for his works on Scottish folklore and tradition. 3. William Hewitson (1806-1878), a British entomologist and naturalist, renowned for his studies on butterflies and moths. 4. Sarah Hewitson (1832-1909), an English philanthropist and social reformer, who championed the cause of women's education and suffrage. 5. James Hewitson (1864-1941), a Canadian politician and lawyer, who served as a Member of Parliament for Ontario.

While the surname Hewitson has evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to medieval England, reflecting the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hewitson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hewitson 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. Durham leads with 451 Hewitsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.78x.

County Total Index
Durham 451 8.78x
Cumberland 281 18.90x
Lancashire 280 1.37x
Yorkshire 207 1.21x
Northumberland 147 5.72x
Westmorland 93 24.51x
Ayrshire 85 6.58x
Middlesex 47 0.27x
Roxburghshire 18 5.76x
Dumfriesshire 16 4.19x
Cheshire 15 0.39x
Surrey 15 0.18x
Hampshire 13 0.37x
Selkirkshire 9 5.76x
Derbyshire 8 0.30x
Glamorgan 8 0.27x
Lanarkshire 8 0.14x
Midlothian 8 0.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 2.80x
Wigtownshire 7 3.05x
Essex 6 0.18x
Isle of Man 6 1.87x
Wiltshire 5 0.33x
Peeblesshire 4 4.93x
Warwickshire 4 0.09x
Berwickshire 3 1.43x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.27x
Lincolnshire 3 0.11x
Kent 2 0.03x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Channel Islands 1 0.20x
East Lothian 1 0.44x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.29x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Somerset 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 52 Hewitsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.34x.

Place Total Index
Middlesbrough 52 23.34x
Preston 49 8.94x
Stanhope 47 88.61x
Wigton 44 197.40x
Allendale 37 155.33x
Darlington 27 13.61x
Gateshead 27 7.02x
Dalmellington 24 63.16x
St Cuthbert W O 24 33.12x
Brandon Byshottles 23 35.74x
Kirkdale 23 6.67x
Barr 22 619.72x
Toxteth Park 21 3.03x
West Derby 19 3.17x
Westgate 19 11.94x
Caldewgate 18 22.10x
Islington London 18 1.08x
Wortley In Bramley 17 12.55x
Barrow In Furness 16 5.74x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 16 7.19x
Stockton On Tees 16 6.46x
Bramley In Bramley 15 22.90x
Crosscanonby 15 30.51x
Everton 15 2.30x
Aspatria 14 97.97x
Coxhoe 14 96.09x
Stranton 14 8.10x
Featherstone 13 634.15x
Ormesby 13 28.27x
Portsea 13 1.87x
Alston 12 43.81x
Bishop Auckland 12 17.41x
Framwellgate 12 39.43x
Kendal 12 17.28x
Langdale 12 277.14x
Macclesfield 12 7.08x
Scotforth 12 90.09x
Sherburn 12 76.78x
Alnwick 11 24.90x
Cocken 11 342.68x
Elswick 11 5.37x
Flimby 11 87.58x
Habergham Eaves 11 5.87x
Kirkandrews On Esk 11 218.25x
Low Ireby 11 597.83x
Newbiggin In Hexham 11 2391.30x
Thornaby 11 17.21x
Brancepeth 10 107.18x
Iveston 10 42.27x
Long Marton 10 235.85x
Winlaton 10 20.29x
Benwell 9 32.05x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 5.53x
Dalton In Furness 9 11.38x
Galashiels 9 15.58x
Hunslet 9 3.37x
Thornton In Bradford 9 15.80x
Appleby St Michael 8 93.79x
Arlecdon 8 20.24x
Ayr 8 13.12x
Cardiff St Mary 8 4.83x
Conside Knitsley 8 20.03x
Hedleyhope 8 89.89x
Huyton With Roby 8 33.32x
Kirkby Stephen 8 81.30x
New Cumnock 8 35.70x
Newington 8 1.25x
Salford 8 1.33x
Shildon 8 19.38x
Trimdon 8 44.05x
Waldridge 8 93.02x
Walworth 8 740.74x
Benfieldside 7 20.72x
Blindcrake Isel Redmain 7 364.58x
Closeburn 7 78.65x
Hethersgill 7 200.00x
Lamesley 7 25.32x
Longton 7 81.30x
Sculcoates 7 2.58x
Shipley 7 7.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 144
Jane 70
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 66
Margaret 44
Ann 43
Isabella 33
Hannah 32
Ellen 24
Alice 22
Annie 19
Emma 12
Agnes 11
Martha 11
Eliza 10
Emily 10
Catherine 8
Ruth 8
Harriet 7
Dinah 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Anne 5
Kate 5
Margt. 5
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Jessie 4
Joanna 4
Rebecca 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Dorothy 3
Mabel 3
Adelaide 2
Barbara 2
Betsy 2
Cecilia 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Eva 2
Francis 2
Isabel 2
Janet 2
Louisa 2
Margth. 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Phebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 129
William 91
Thomas 79
Joseph 69
Robert 50
James 48
George 35
Henry 28
Edward 23
Albert 10
Anthony 9
David 9
Francis 8
Thos. 8
Arthur 7
Isaac 7
Matthew 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Richard 6
Frederick 5
Christopher 4
Frank 4
Peter 4
Tom 4
Adam 3
Fenwick 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Jos. 3
Mark 3
Nicholas 3
Ralph 3
Robt. 3
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
C. 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Myles 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Simpson 2
Wm. 2
Bertie 1
Birkett 1
Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Featherstone 1
Wm.Hetherington 1

FAQ

Hewitson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hewitson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,763 people were recorded with the Hewitson surname. That placed it at #2,452 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hewitson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,263 in 2016. That gives Hewitson a modern rank of #2,867.

What does the Hewitson surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England meaning "Hugh's town".

What does the Hewitson map show?

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