NameCensus.

UK surname

Lewer

A derivative of the German word for "lion", likely referring to someone with lion-like qualities.

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Lewer surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Sevenoaks and Portsmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewer is 403 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.6%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

1998

403 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lewer had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 402 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lewer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lewer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lewer 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 225 #9,509
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 371 #9,405
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 402 #9,249
1997 modern 396 #11,086
1998 modern 403 #11,275
1999 modern 397 #11,503
2000 modern 394 #11,520
2001 modern 379 #11,676
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 360 #12,112
2006 modern 345 #12,571
2007 modern 350 #12,600
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 360 #12,953
2011 modern 353 #13,004
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 371 #12,567
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Lewers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, London parishes, Lambeth and Reigate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Sevenoaks, Portsmouth, Rossendale and Hackney. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Reigate Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 005 Waverley
2 Sevenoaks 014 Sevenoaks
3 Portsmouth 007 Portsmouth
4 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
5 Hackney 007 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lewer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lewer

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lewer is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lewer is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lewer falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lewer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lewer

The surname Lewer is of English origin, and it first appeared during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lew," which means "shelter" or "refuge." The name likely originated in areas such as Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, where this term was commonly used.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lewer surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1195, which mentions a person named Richard le Lewer. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

The Lewer name has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Lewerholme in Yorkshire and Lewers Lane in Derbyshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname, which included Lewers, Lewars, and Lowers.

In the 14th century, the Lewer surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Leicestershire, where a John Lewer was listed as a taxpayer in 1327. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued use and spread throughout different regions of England.

Notable individuals who bore the Lewer surname throughout history include Robert Lewer (1567-1636), an English clergyman and author of theological works. Another prominent figure was Sir John Lewer (1624-1701), a baronet and member of Parliament who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1689.

Other Lewer individuals of note were Thomas Lewer (1786-1852), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, and William Lewer (1809-1891), a successful businessman and philanthropist who established the Lewer Trust for charitable purposes.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Lewer surname also appeared in various parish records and tax rolls across counties like Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, indicating its widespread presence throughout England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lewer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewer 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. Surrey leads with 116 Lewers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.04x.

County Total Index
Surrey 116 10.04x
Middlesex 39 1.65x
Hampshire 21 4.32x
Sussex 16 4.00x
Berkshire 13 7.31x
Yorkshire 9 0.38x
Durham 8 1.13x
Wiltshire 6 2.86x
Angus 4 1.82x
Kent 4 0.49x
Hertfordshire 2 1.22x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Morayshire 1 2.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 19 Lewers recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.35x.

Place Total Index
Godalming 19 261.35x
Portsea 15 15.75x
Lambeth 14 6.77x
Reigate Foreign 14 111.91x
Reading St Mary 12 84.21x
Effingham 10 2083.33x
Bermondsey 8 11.34x
Bishopwearmouth 8 13.22x
Islington London 6 2.61x
Shere 6 428.57x
Bethnal Green London 5 4.86x
East Molesey 5 186.57x
Hambledon 5 409.84x
Hampstead London 5 13.54x
Hove 5 28.51x
Sutton 5 59.81x
West Clandon 5 1666.67x
Westminster St John 5 17.32x
Arbroath 4 54.95x
Armley 4 38.61x
Lewes St John Southover 4 149.25x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 119.05x
South Stoneham 4 37.95x
St Marylebone London 4 3.16x
Wandsworth 4 17.53x
Albury 3 285.71x
Brighton 3 3.72x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.81x
Kensington London 3 2.28x
Little Bookham 3 1875.00x
Putney 3 27.78x
St George In East London 3 13.45x
Wheatley 3 370.37x
Willesden 3 13.43x
Birmingham 2 1.00x
Blackburn 2 2.67x
Camberwell 2 1.32x
Cliffe 2 148.15x
Leeds 2 1.51x
Poplar London 2 4.47x
Watford 2 15.79x
Bow London 1 3.31x
Clapham 1 3.38x
Cranleigh 1 59.17x
Croydon 1 1.56x
Dorking 1 12.89x
Elgin 1 13.97x
Esher 1 61.73x
Fisherton Anger 1 25.77x
Hastings St Mary 1 10.05x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.60x
Netherhampton 1 666.67x
Niton 1 153.85x
Paddington London 1 1.15x
Pangbourn 1 166.67x
Ramsgate 1 7.58x
Reigate Borough 1 37.59x
Richmond 1 6.18x
Ringmer 1 88.50x
Rotherhithe 1 3.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.10x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 20.49x
Ventnor 1 21.65x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
Henry 12
George 7
James 6
John 6
Charles 5
David 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Adolphus 1
Albert 1
Aldridge 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Harvey 1
Heinrich 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Mary 1
Morton 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lewer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lewer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Lewer surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lewer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Lewer a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Lewer surname mean?

A derivative of the German word for "lion", likely referring to someone with lion-like qualities.

What does the Lewer map show?

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