NameCensus.

UK surname

Kewin

A variant form of the Welsh surname Kewn meaning "large" or "powerful".

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Kewin surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, North Tyneside and Burnfoot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kewin is 130 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 392.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

2002

130 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kewin had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 53 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Kewin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kewin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kewin 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 128 #23,890
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Kewins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, North Tyneside, Burnfoot, Allerdale and Liverpool. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 North Tyneside 006 North Tyneside
3 Burnfoot Scottish Borders
4 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
5 Liverpool 011 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kewin

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kewin

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Kewin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kewin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kewin is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kewin 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

Kewin 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 Kewin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kewin

The surname Kewin is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cefin," which means "ridge" or "hill." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or on a prominent geographical feature such as a ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kewin can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Cheuine," which is likely an early spelling variation of the modern Kewin.

In the 13th century, records show a Reginald de Kewin who held lands in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name had become established as a surname by this point, with the "de" prefix indicating a connection to a specific place or location.

During the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kewin was John Kewin, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was a member of the city's influential merchant guild and played a role in the city's governance during his lifetime.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Kewin, who lived in the 16th century and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford in Norfolk. He was knighted for his service to the Crown during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure with the surname Kewin was Robert Kewin, a clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral from 1660 to 1677. He was known for his contributions to theological discourse and his role in the restoration of the Church of England following the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, the name Kewin appeared in various records, including parish registers and trade directories, indicating its continued use across different regions of England. One notable individual from this period was William Kewin, a successful merchant and landowner in the county of Wiltshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Kewin has also been associated with various place names and localities, such as Kewin's Green in Hertfordshire and Kewin's Manor in Buckinghamshire. These place names may have been derived from individuals bearing the surname Kewin who had a significant presence or landholdings in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kewin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kewin 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. Isle of Man leads with 114 Kewins recorded in 1881 and an index of 452.74x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 114 452.74x
Lancashire 19 1.18x
Middlesex 2 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.22x
Surrey 1 0.15x
Warwickshire 1 0.29x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 28 Kewins recorded in 1881 and an index of 386.21x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 28 386.21x
Maughold 13 670.10x
Andreas 10 1470.59x
Bride 10 2941.18x
Jurby 10 3333.33x
Malew 10 454.55x
Lezayre 9 796.46x
Lonan 9 588.24x
German 6 437.96x
Liverpool 6 6.14x
Barrow In Furness 4 18.28x
Braddan 4 289.86x
Douglas 4 1111.11x
Hulme 3 8.93x
Paddington London 2 4.01x
Toxteth Park 2 3.67x
Aston 1 1.06x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 8.26x
Egham 1 24.63x
German Peel 1 68.97x
Kirkdale 1 3.70x
Manningham 1 6.04x
Moss Side 1 11.81x
Ulverston 1 21.32x
West Bromwich 1 3.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 10
Margaret 8
Mary 7
Elizabeth 5
Esther 5
Sarah 5
Catherine 4
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Isabella 3
Sophia 3
Amy 2
Edith 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elinor 1
Eliza 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Lena 1
Lenora 1
Love 1
Margt.Ann 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 8
Thomas 7
Edward 5
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Daniel 3
Joseph 3
Michael 2
Abraham 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
James 1
Philip 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kewin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kewin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Kewin surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kewin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Kewin a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Kewin surname mean?

A variant form of the Welsh surname Kewn meaning "large" or "powerful".

What does the Kewin map show?

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