UK surname
An Anglo-Saxon surname referring to a meadow winner or landowner.
In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Medwin surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #21,573 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medwin is 104 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 49.4%.
1881 census count
85
Ranked #21,573
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1901
104 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Medwin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Medwin surname density by area, 1901 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 67 | #25,342 |
| 1881 | historical | 85 | #21,573 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 94 | #23,391 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 36 | #34,246 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 38 | #34,741 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Beckenham. 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 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Beckenham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Medwin 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 Medwin, 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 Medwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Medwin 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, Medwin 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 Medwin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Medwin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MEDWIN originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "mæd" and "win," which together mean "meadow friend" or "dweller of the meadows." This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a meadow or open field.
The MEDWIN surname is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. This early documentation indicates that the name was established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the MEDWIN surname was Robert de Medwin, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, which provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 12th century.
During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the MEDWIN surname appeared in various forms, such as Medewine, Medwine, and Medwyn. These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the MEDWIN surname was John Medwin (c. 1520-1590), an English landowner and member of Parliament who represented Oxfordshire in 1572.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir Philip Medwin (1637-1718), a British naval officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southampton from 1695 to 1702.
The MEDWIN surname also has connections to place names. For instance, Medwynmere, a village in Shropshire, derived its name from the Old English words "mæd" and "wyn," which are related to the origins of the MEDWIN surname.
Other notable individuals with the MEDWIN surname include:
1. Thomas Medwin (1788-1869), an English author and biographer who wrote extensively about Lord Byron. 2. Charles Medwin (1799-1883), an English author and playwright known for his memoir on Shelley. 3. William Medwin (1840-1916), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Medwin Trust for charitable purposes. 4. Alfred Medwin (1864-1943), a British artist and illustrator known for his portraits and landscape paintings. 5. Francis Medwin (1892-1972), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medwin 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. Surrey leads with 44 Medwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 44 | 10.89x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.21x |
| Kent | 9 | 3.18x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 4.12x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.51x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 3.14x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.50x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.24x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.07x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.48x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 30 Medwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 30 | 41.50x |
| Camberwell | 11 | 20.77x |
| Basingstoke | 6 | 307.69x |
| Lewisham | 6 | 39.79x |
| Great Bolton | 5 | 38.37x |
| Shoreditch London | 5 | 13.91x |
| Great Yarmouth | 4 | 37.88x |
| Bathwick | 2 | 135.14x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 8.10x |
| Dalton In Huddersfield | 2 | 108.70x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.34x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.00x |
| Sutton At Hone | 2 | 338.98x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 17.57x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.44x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 18.21x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.15x |
| Penge | 1 | 18.87x |
| St Martins | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Medwin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Medwin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Medwin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Medwin surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Medwin a modern rank of #35,285.
An Anglo-Saxon surname referring to a meadow winner or landowner.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Medwin 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.