UK surname
A surname derived from the town of Lewes in England.
In the 1881 census there were 703 people recorded with the Lewes surname, ranking it #5,173 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #5,173 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewes is 1,486 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.9%.
1881 census count
703
Ranked #5,173
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1861
1,486 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lewes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lewes surname density by area, 1881 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 | 862 | #3,157 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,486 | #1,901 |
| 1881 | historical | 703 | #5,173 |
| 1891 | historical | 1,332 | #3,270 |
| 1901 | historical | 265 | #12,652 |
| 1911 | historical | 401 | #9,262 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 53 | #34,115 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 64 | #34,141 |
| 2015 | modern | 63 | #34,178 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil, Lambeth and St Marylebone. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lewes 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 Lewes, 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 Lewes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lewes 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, Lewes 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 Lewes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lewes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lewes originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is a locational name derived from the town of Lewes in East Sussex, which was originally called "Leofwines" in Old English, meaning "Leofwine's people." Leofwine was a Saxon chieftain who owned land in the area.
Lewes is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lewes." The town's name evolved over time, with variations including Lewes, Lewis, and Lews. The surname Lewes likely emerged as a way to identify people who came from or lived in the town of Lewes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lewes dates back to 1273, when a man named Richard de Lewes was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Sussex. Another early record is from 1327, when John de Lewes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex.
In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Lewes, a member of the Guildford Friary in Surrey. He was born around 1310 and is known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
During the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Lewes was Edward Lewes (1508-1570), an English Protestant reformer and author. He was known for his work promoting the Reformation in England and his writings against the Catholic Church.
In the 17th century, a notable Lewes was Rebecca Lewes (1619-1690), a Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania. She wrote several religious works and was known for her advocacy of Quaker beliefs.
Another significant figure with the surname Lewes was George Henry Lewes (1817-1878), an English philosopher and critic. He was known for his works on philosophy, psychology, and literary criticism, and was also the partner of the novelist George Eliot.
It is clear that the surname Lewes has a long and rich history, originating from the town of Lewes in England and being borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries. The name has evolved over time but remains rooted in its Anglo-Saxon origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewes 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. Middlesex leads with 128 Lewes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 128 | 1.86x |
| Sussex | 81 | 6.97x |
| Surrey | 67 | 1.99x |
| Kent | 38 | 1.61x |
| Yorkshire | 37 | 0.54x |
| Essex | 32 | 2.35x |
| Lancashire | 26 | 0.32x |
| Staffordshire | 23 | 0.99x |
| Hampshire | 22 | 1.56x |
| Suffolk | 22 | 2.62x |
| Gloucestershire | 20 | 1.48x |
| Warwickshire | 18 | 1.03x |
| Devon | 16 | 1.11x |
| Monmouthshire | 16 | 3.21x |
| Cheshire | 15 | 0.99x |
| Berkshire | 14 | 2.70x |
| Glamorgan | 14 | 1.17x |
| Radnorshire | 13 | 23.36x |
| Somerset | 13 | 1.17x |
| Durham | 12 | 0.58x |
| Oxfordshire | 11 | 2.58x |
| Worcestershire | 8 | 0.89x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 0.75x |
| Pembrokeshire | 7 | 3.19x |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 1.44x |
| Denbighshire | 5 | 1.92x |
| Caernarfonshire | 4 | 1.43x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 0.66x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 0.58x |
| Carmarthenshire | 3 | 1.03x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 1.06x |
| Royal Navy | 3 | 3.65x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 0.50x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 0.31x |
| Cardiganshire | 2 | 1.19x |
| Dorset | 2 | 0.44x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.16x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.21x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.04x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.10x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 20 Lewes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.38x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lewes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 37 |
| Elizabeth | 33 |
| Sarah | 28 |
| Jane | 17 |
| Ellen | 16 |
| Emily | 14 |
| Ann | 13 |
| Emma | 12 |
| Alice | 11 |
| Annie | 11 |
| Eliza | 10 |
| Martha | 8 |
| Caroline | 7 |
| Louisa | 6 |
| Amy | 5 |
| Lucy | 5 |
| Anna | 4 |
| Anne | 4 |
| Gertrude | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Kate | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Rebecca | 4 |
| Ada | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Clara | 3 |
| Fanny | 3 |
| Florence | 3 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Henrietta | 3 |
| Lydia | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Beatrice | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Elenor | 2 |
| Ethel | 2 |
| Florance | 2 |
| Georgina | 2 |
| Lizzie | 2 |
| Margt. | 2 |
| Marian | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Dina | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Eda | 1 |
| Elinor | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lewes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 33 |
| William | 31 |
| George | 25 |
| Thomas | 21 |
| Charles | 19 |
| Joseph | 17 |
| James | 15 |
| Walter | 10 |
| Alfred | 9 |
| Arthur | 8 |
| Edward | 8 |
| Frederick | 8 |
| Henry | 8 |
| Richard | 5 |
| Samuel | 5 |
| David | 4 |
| Edwin | 4 |
| Frank | 4 |
| Jacob | 4 |
| Robert | 4 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Amos | 2 |
| Ernest | 2 |
| Evan | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Montague | 2 |
| Patrick | 2 |
| Price | 2 |
| Thos. | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Caractacus | 1 |
| Chas. | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Clarence | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Edsall | 1 |
| Elias | 1 |
| Enos | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Hugh | 1 |
| Hyman | 1 |
| Idrish | 1 |
| Isaacher | 1 |
| Isaiah | 1 |
| Jack | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Jno. | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 703 people were recorded with the Lewes surname. That placed it at #5,173 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Lewes a modern rank of #34,098.
A surname derived from the town of Lewes in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lewes 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.