NameCensus.

UK surname

Hews

A surname denoting someone who hewed or cut something.

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Hews surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Worthing, Wiltshire and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hews is 342 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.5%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1851

342 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hews had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 342 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hews surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hews surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hews 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 342 #6,879
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 186 #15,740
1901 historical 182 #16,057
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 88 #29,131
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 93 #28,701
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 85 #31,247
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Hews' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Kings Norton, Mersea, West and Bradwell-near-the-Sea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Worthing, Wiltshire, North Devon and Cheltenham. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Mersea, West Essex
5 Bradwell-near-the-Sea Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Worthing 004 Worthing
2 Wiltshire 021 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 036 Wiltshire
4 North Devon 011 North Devon
5 Cheltenham 009 Cheltenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hews

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hews

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hews 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

Hews is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hews

The surname HEWS has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "hēawan," which means "to hew" or "to cut." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a woodcutter or a stone mason.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HEWS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Heuwe." In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in various forms, such as "Hewe" and "Hiew," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that time.

The HEWS surname is closely associated with several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. For instance, there is a village called Hewish in Somerset, which may have been named after an early bearer of the HEWS name.

One notable individual with the surname HEWS was John Hews, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the city's trade and was also a benefactor of several charitable causes.

Another historically significant figure was Sir Bartholomew Hews, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1765 and gained recognition for his bravery and leadership in several major battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the 18th century, the HEWS family had a strong presence in the wool trade in the West Country region of England. Thomas Hews (1702-1776) was a successful wool merchant and landowner in the town of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

The HEWS surname also has connections to the arts. William Hews (1815-1891) was a renowned English landscape painter who specialized in depicting rural scenes and landscapes of the English countryside.

Furthermore, the HEWS name has been associated with the field of architecture. George Hews (1832-1904) was a prominent architect in London, known for his designs of several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era.

While these are just a few examples, the surname HEWS has a rich and varied history, spanning across different walks of life and regions within England over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hews families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hews 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. Essex leads with 33 Hews' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.20x.

County Total Index
Essex 33 8.20x
Middlesex 33 1.62x
Sussex 29 8.44x
Oxfordshire 20 15.89x
Suffolk 19 7.65x
Somerset 15 4.57x
Devon 10 2.36x
Lancashire 10 0.41x
Monmouthshire 7 4.75x
Surrey 5 0.50x
Warwickshire 5 0.97x
Durham 4 0.66x
Rutland 4 26.72x
Berkshire 3 1.96x
Kent 2 0.29x
Wiltshire 2 1.11x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Angus 1 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.81x
Glamorgan 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.15x
Selkirkshire 1 5.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Mersea in Essex leads with 17 Hews' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2207.79x.

Place Total Index
West Mersea 17 2207.79x
Hackney London 10 8.75x
Wisborough Green 10 869.57x
Henley On Thames 9 348.84x
Bradwell 8 1159.42x
Amberley 7 1372.55x
Battisford 7 2333.33x
Brompton Ralph 7 2333.33x
Christchurch 7 153.51x
St Katherine Coleman 7 3684.21x
Broadwater 6 76.14x
Lavenham 6 461.54x
Parr 6 69.36x
Rotherfield Peppard 6 1714.29x
Wiveliscombe 6 327.87x
Abberton 5 2941.18x
Aston 5 3.53x
Chelsea London 4 6.51x
Nayland 4 634.92x
Oakham Lordshold 4 254.78x
Brimpton 3 1000.00x
Hammersmith London 3 5.97x
Kirdford 3 252.10x
Kirkdale 3 7.37x
Lambeth 3 1.69x
Limehouse London 3 13.40x
Ottery St Mary 3 107.91x
Bromley London 2 4.46x
Bulkworthy 2 2500.00x
Chertsey 2 31.15x
Ealing 2 10.98x
Exeter St Lawrence 2 625.00x
Great Clacton 2 145.99x
Harpsden 2 1176.47x
Nettlebed 2 434.78x
Polstead 2 344.83x
Westoe 2 5.82x
Barnoldswick 1 35.46x
Barony 1 0.60x
Bridgewater 1 11.22x
Brighton 1 1.44x
Exeter St David 1 27.55x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 39.06x
Gembling 1 1250.00x
Great Coggeshall 1 47.85x
Hartlepool 1 11.60x
Ivinghoe 1 104.17x
Laleham 1 256.41x
Lewisham 1 2.70x
Littlehampton 1 36.50x
Lochee 1 59.52x
Manchester 1 0.92x
Margate St John Baptist 1 7.85x
Martin 1 277.78x
Neath 1 13.85x
Patney 1 1000.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.06x
Portsea 1 1.22x
Rotherfield Greys 1 75.19x
Rumbolds Wyke 1 158.73x
Selkirk 1 19.23x
St Luke London 1 3.06x
Taunton St Mary 1 16.61x
Usworth 1 31.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Ellen 4
Emily 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Adela 1
Agnes 1
Anglinia 1
Annie 1
Blanch 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fancey 1
Flo.Fran.Rho. 1
Flor. 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Honor 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Kathleen 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rosinia 1
Rubinia 1
Sarah 1
Urana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 13
William 10
Thomas 7
James 6
Charles 5
Ernest 4
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Jacob 2
Josiah 2
Albert 1
Arther 1
Bertie 1
Byam 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Fredk.C. 1
Harrie 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Jamia 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Hews surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hews surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Hews surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hews surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Hews a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Hews surname mean?

A surname denoting someone who hewed or cut something.

What does the Hews map show?

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