UK surname
A surname likely derived from the Middle Low German word "lewe" meaning "lion".
In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Lewe surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #32,765 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, St James and St Paul and St Saviour Southwark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewe is 108 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.
1881 census count
7
Ranked #32,765
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
108 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lewe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lewe surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 108 | #19,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 7 | #32,765 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 11 | #32,907 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, St James and St Paul, St Saviour Southwark, St Werburgh and Beaulieu. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin | Devon |
| 2 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | St Saviour Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Beaulieu | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lewe surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lewe, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lewe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lewe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lewe is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lewe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lewe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LEWE is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old High German word "lewo," meaning "lion." It is thought to have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who exhibited lion-like qualities, such as bravery, strength, or ferocity in battle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LEWE can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Principality of Anhalt in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The name appears in a document dated 1248, referring to a certain "Henricus dictus Lewe" (Henry, called Lewe).
In the 14th century, the LEWE surname gained prominence in the region of Saxony, where it was associated with several notable figures. Johannes Lewe (1325-1399), a renowned scholar and theologian, served as the rector of the University of Leipzig and authored several influential works on canon law.
As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In England, for instance, the surname was often rendered as "Lew" or "Lewe." One of the earliest recorded English bearers of the name was William Lewe, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1324.
The LEWE surname also found its way to the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Leeuw" or "Leuwen." In the 16th century, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), the famous Dutch painter and etcher, depicted a man named Lieven Willemsz van Leeuwen in one of his portraits.
In France, the name took on the form "Leu" or "Leul," and was particularly prevalent in the region of Alsace. One notable bearer of the name was Jean-Baptiste Leu (1742-1829), a French engraver and printmaker who was renowned for his intricate copperplate engravings.
As the centuries passed, the LEWE surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond, carried by merchants, soldiers, and settlers. While its origins may be rooted in the Germanic lands of old, the name has become a part of the rich tapestry of global heritage, representing the diverse cultures and histories that have shaped our modern world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Herefordshire leads with 5 Lewes recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Herefordshire | 5 | 179.21x |
| Somerset | 2 | 18.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kington in Herefordshire leads with 5 Lewes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7142.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kington | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Bridgewater | 2 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lewe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Lewe surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Lewe a modern rank of #37,829.
A surname likely derived from the Middle Low German word "lewe" meaning "lion".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lewe bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.