NameCensus.

UK surname

Jewett

A surname derived from the Middle English personal name Juet, a diminutive of the Old French name Jeudon.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Jewett surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Isle of Wight and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jewett is 250 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.2%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

1901

250 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jewett had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 250 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jewett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jewett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jewett 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 172 #11,682
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 229 #13,539
1901 historical 250 #13,136
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 156 #22,886
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Jewetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Halifax, London parishes, Bishop Wearmouth and Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Isle of Wight, Rother, Eastleigh and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Isle of Wight 013 Isle of Wight
3 Rother 006 Rother
4 Eastleigh 012 Eastleigh
5 Stockton-on-Tees 006 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jewett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jewett

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Jewett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jewett is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Jewett

The surname Jewett originated in England, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "jouette," meaning a small hill or mound. This reflects the name's geographic origins in areas with hilly or undulating terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279, where it appears as "William de la Jouette." This suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, referring to someone living near or on a small hill.

The name underwent various spelling variations over the centuries, including Jouet, Joyet, and Jowett, before settling into its modern form of Jewett. These variations can be found in historical records across different regions of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire and Gloucestershire.

In the 16th century, the Jewett surname gained prominence with the birth of John Jewett (c. 1562-1615), an English prelate who served as Bishop of Sodor and Man from 1604 until his death. Another notable figure was Randolph Jewett (1611-1675), a merchant and landowner in Massachusetts, who is considered one of the early settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts.

The name also has connections to place names, such as Jewitt's Hill in Derbyshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname. Additionally, the village of Jewitt's Ford in Berkshire is believed to have taken its name from a similar source.

Other notable individuals with the Jewett surname include:

1. Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909), an influential American novelist and short story writer from New England. 2. Freeborn Garrettson Jewett (1791-1858), an early American Methodist circuit rider and evangelist. 3. Hugh Jewett (1817-1898), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from Ohio. 4. Charles Coffin Jewett (1816-1868), an American librarian and bibliographer who served as the first Superintendent of the Boston Public Library. 5. Thomas Jewett (1767-1842), an American businessman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Maryland.

While the Jewett surname has its origins in England, it has been carried across the globe by various individuals and families, making it a part of many countries' histories and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jewett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jewett 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 40 Jewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 40 2.20x
Durham 30 5.50x
Northumberland 24 8.80x
Middlesex 17 0.93x
Kent 15 2.40x
Lancashire 11 0.51x
Hampshire 10 2.66x
Essex 6 1.66x
Surrey 6 0.67x
Suffolk 5 2.24x
Warwickshire 5 1.08x
Cornwall 4 1.93x
Staffordshire 4 0.65x
Wiltshire 4 2.47x
Devon 2 0.52x
Lincolnshire 2 0.68x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.86x
Derbyshire 1 0.35x
Norfolk 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 13 Jewetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.32x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 13 62.32x
Newington 11 220.00x
St Mary Extra 10 331.13x
Longbenton 9 77.85x
Mickley 8 930.23x
Bishopwearmouth 6 12.81x
Islington London 6 3.38x
Whickham 6 119.52x
Coventry St Michael 5 33.65x
Hartlepool 5 64.52x
Wath In Ripon Norton 5 2272.73x
Westoe 5 16.17x
Heckmondwike 4 68.49x
Oldham 4 5.70x
Penge 4 34.16x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 153.85x
Seaton Delaval 4 166.67x
Sedgley 4 17.40x
Shipley 4 42.42x
St Pancras London 4 2.71x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 76.92x
West Ham 4 5.01x
Antony 3 150.00x
Boldon 3 154.64x
Gomersal 3 35.38x
Haverhill 3 151.52x
Iveston 3 119.52x
Liversedge 3 37.08x
Ulverston 3 47.32x
Ardwick 2 10.19x
Bubwith 2 606.06x
Felixstow 2 370.37x
Great Grimsby 2 10.75x
Hammersmith London 2 4.43x
Lambeth 2 1.25x
Leeds 2 1.95x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 18.78x
Prudhoe 2 105.26x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.19x
Walthamstow 2 15.35x
Ashford 1 68.97x
Bourn 1 196.08x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.71x
Eltham 1 27.25x
Erith 1 16.23x
Falmouth 1 13.61x
Hunstanton 1 105.26x
Litchurch 1 8.66x
Liverpool 1 0.76x
Mirfield 1 10.02x
Paddington London 1 1.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.40x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.74x
Tynemouth 1 6.84x
West Drayton 1 158.73x
Wigan 1 3.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Emma 6
Ann 5
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Dobnaw 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Helna 1
Lily 1
Lousia 1
Mable 1
Manny 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
George 11
Thomas 8
Henry 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Frederick 4
William 4
Charles 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Matthew 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Polend 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Sanse 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Jewett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jewett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Jewett surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jewett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Jewett a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Jewett surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English personal name Juet, a diminutive of the Old French name Jeudon.

What does the Jewett map show?

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