NameCensus.

UK surname

Lewins

A surname derived from the medieval personal name Lewin or Lowen, a pet form of Old English names beginning with "Leof" meaning "dear" or "beloved".

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Lewins surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 607, ranked #8,637, up from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Sunderland and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lewins is 617 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.7%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

607

2016, ranked #8,637

Peak year

2013

617 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lewins had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016, ranked #8,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 385 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lewins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lewins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lewins 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 296 #11,215
1901 historical 335 #10,782
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 586 #8,283
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 609 #8,362
2000 modern 603 #8,394
2001 modern 596 #8,335
2002 modern 602 #8,442
2003 modern 554 #8,788
2004 modern 540 #8,978
2005 modern 532 #9,019
2006 modern 519 #9,223
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 553 #8,924
2009 modern 562 #9,013
2010 modern 601 #8,774
2011 modern 596 #8,735
2012 modern 594 #8,679
2013 modern 617 #8,548
2014 modern 614 #8,643
2015 modern 600 #8,738
2016 modern 607 #8,637

Geography

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Where Lewins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth, Chester-le-Street (Harraton), Washington (Usworth and North Biddick ) and Houghton-le-Spring. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Sunderland, Calderdale and County Durham. 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 Gateshead Durham
3 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
4 Chester-le-Street (Harraton), Washington (Usworth and North Biddick ) Durham
5 Houghton-le-Spring Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 039 Wakefield
2 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
3 Calderdale 017 Calderdale
4 County Durham 006 County Durham
5 Sunderland 017 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lewins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lewins

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Lewins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lewins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lewins 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

Lewins 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lewins

The surname LEWINS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked on a meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LEWINS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Leuuinus" and "Leuuine." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in different spellings, such as "Lewyn" and "Lewing," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling practices at the time.

The LEWINS surname is also associated with certain place names in England, such as Lewin's Mead in Somerset and Lewin's Land in Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

One notable individual with the surname LEWINS was Sir John Lewin (c. 1570-1658), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Winchelsea during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent figure was William Lewin (1747-1795), an English naturalist and author known for his work on British birds and lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).

In the literary world, John William Lewin (1770-1819) was an English artist and author who published several books on Australian natural history and flora after emigrating to New South Wales in 1799.

The LEWINS surname also has connections to the clergy, with Reverend Thomas Lewin (1805-1877) serving as a Church of England clergyman and author in the 19th century.

Thomas Lewin (1856-1939), an English cricketer, played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and represented the English national team in the late 19th century.

While these are just a few examples, the LEWINS surname has a rich history spanning various fields and periods, reflecting its English origins and the diverse individuals who have carried this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lewins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lewins 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. Durham leads with 168 Lewins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.27x.

County Total Index
Durham 168 22.27x
Northumberland 42 11.13x
Berwickshire 11 35.82x
Middlesex 9 0.35x
Angus 8 3.41x
Lancashire 6 0.20x
Gloucestershire 5 1.01x
Yorkshire 5 0.20x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Glamorgan 1 0.23x
Kincardineshire 1 3.24x
Midlothian 1 0.29x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Moorsley in Durham leads with 19 Lewins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2345.68x.

Place Total Index
Moorsley 19 2345.68x
Bishopwearmouth 17 26.25x
Hetton Le Hole 17 177.82x
Elswick 12 39.84x
Coldingham 10 362.32x
Tynemouth 10 49.48x
Kyo 9 253.52x
Farnell 8 1481.48x
Newfield 8 800.00x
Usworth 8 199.50x
Kelloe 7 864.20x
Wingate 7 135.40x
Gateshead 6 10.62x
Newbottle 6 145.63x
Tanfield 6 66.89x
Bristol St George 5 21.74x
Framwellgate 5 111.86x
Jesmond 5 94.16x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 33.94x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 100.81x
Shildon 5 82.51x
Widnes 5 23.03x
York St Mary 5 48.03x
Coxhoe 4 186.92x
Greencroft Langley 4 1212.12x
Haswell 4 73.94x
Houghton Le Spring 4 76.63x
Iveston 4 114.94x
Kensington London 4 2.84x
Monk Hesleden 4 190.48x
Pegswood 4 470.59x
Winlaton 4 55.25x
Cornforth 3 135.14x
Penshaw 3 132.16x
Hackney London 2 1.41x
Hammersmith London 2 3.20x
Tudhoe 2 30.30x
Whitley 2 163.93x
Beddington 1 20.92x
Bervie 1 54.64x
Bournmoor 1 84.75x
Cannock 1 6.69x
Coldstream 1 45.05x
Darlington 1 3.43x
Duddingston 1 14.66x
Gainford 1 128.21x
Hexham 1 17.12x
Kingsbury 1 151.52x
Longbenton 1 6.26x
Moss Side 1 6.31x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 4.44x
Ryhope 1 19.08x
Stranton 1 3.94x
Streatham 1 5.31x
Swansea Town 1 2.76x
Urpeth 1 68.03x
Westgate 1 4.28x
Westoe 1 2.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 20
Mary 18
Margaret 13
Jane 11
Sarah 6
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Eliz. 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Barbara 1
Charlottee 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Emly 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Ketherine 1
Laura 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Nelly 1
Olive 1
Philis 1
Phillis 1
Selina 1
Ursala 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 15
William 13
John 12
George 10
James 9
Joseph 9
Ralph 7
Martin 4
Henry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Foster 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Hurburt 1
Jane 1
Jonathan 1
Laurence 1
Mattew 1
Richd.T. 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Tho. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lewins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lewins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Lewins surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lewins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 607 in 2016. That gives Lewins a modern rank of #8,637.

What does the Lewins surname mean?

A surname derived from the medieval personal name Lewin or Lowen, a pet form of Old English names beginning with "Leof" meaning "dear" or "beloved".

What does the Lewins map show?

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