NameCensus.

UK surname

Prew

A surname derived from a word meaning "brave" or "courageous" in an English dialect.

In the 1881 census there were 364 people recorded with the Prew surname, ranking it #8,525 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 618, ranked #8,511, up from #8,525 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hollesley, Didbrook (Didbrook), Stanway, Stanton and Cheltenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, East Devon and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prew is 630 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.8%.

1881 census count

364

Ranked #8,525

Modern count

618

2016, ranked #8,511

Peak year

2014

630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prew had 364 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,525 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016, ranked #8,511.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 534 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prew 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 258 #8,568
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 364 #8,525
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 474 #8,382
1911 historical 534 #7,458
1997 modern 544 #8,739
1998 modern 618 #8,221
1999 modern 625 #8,206
2000 modern 605 #8,379
2001 modern 598 #8,314
2002 modern 593 #8,527
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 586 #8,487
2005 modern 568 #8,601
2006 modern 569 #8,612
2007 modern 583 #8,541
2008 modern 595 #8,474
2009 modern 605 #8,544
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 588 #8,825
2012 modern 619 #8,387
2013 modern 617 #8,548
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 621 #8,492
2016 modern 618 #8,511

Geography

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Where Prews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hollesley, Didbrook (Didbrook), Stanway, Stanton, Cheltenham, Otterton and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, East Devon and West Oxfordshire. 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 Hollesley Suffolk
2 Didbrook (Didbrook), Stanway, Stanton Gloucestershire
3 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
4 Otterton Devon
5 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 009 Scarborough
2 East Devon 017 East Devon
3 West Oxfordshire 003 West Oxfordshire
4 Scarborough 012 Scarborough
5 West Oxfordshire 005 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prew

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Prew is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prew 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

Prew falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Prew is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Prew

The surname PREW has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "preu," meaning "brave" or "valiant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive term to someone who displayed qualities of bravery or courage.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name PREW can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain William Preu is listed. This indicates that the name was already established in that region by the early 14th century.

During the medieval period, the PREW surname was concentrated primarily in the southern counties of England, particularly in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. It is possible that the name has connections to the village of Prew in Gloucestershire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname or vice versa.

In the 16th century, records show a John Prew who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1542. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of the Midlands region by that time.

One notable bearer of the PREW surname was Sir John Prew, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Bristol during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in 1560 and became a prominent figure in the city's trade and civic affairs.

Another historical figure with the PREW surname was Thomas Prew, a Puritan minister who was born in Gloucestershire in 1609. He later emigrated to New England and served as a pastor in several congregations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In the 18th century, a family of PREWs was recorded in the parish records of Weston-under-Penyard, Herefordshire. Among them was William Prew, who was born in 1712 and worked as a farmer.

During the 19th century, the PREW surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some instances of the spelling variations "Prue" and "Prugh" appearing in certain records.

Overall, the surname PREW has a long and intriguing history, with its roots firmly planted in the English countryside and its earliest bearers likely being individuals of notable bravery or valor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prew 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. Warwickshire leads with 58 Prews recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.30x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 58 6.30x
Somerset 48 8.17x
Gloucestershire 47 6.57x
Devon 28 3.69x
Middlesex 26 0.71x
Lancashire 25 0.58x
Oxfordshire 23 10.21x
Berkshire 22 8.03x
Worcestershire 16 3.36x
Glamorgan 12 1.89x
Kent 11 0.88x
Suffolk 11 2.48x
Isle of Man 10 14.76x
Yorkshire 8 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.22x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Lanarkshire 5 0.42x
Northamptonshire 3 0.87x
Hertfordshire 2 0.80x
Lincolnshire 2 0.34x
Bedfordshire 1 0.53x
Denbighshire 1 0.73x
Herefordshire 1 0.67x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 31 Prews recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.48x.

Place Total Index
Bridgewater 31 194.48x
Otterton 24 1967.21x
Birmingham 22 7.17x
Cheltenham 17 30.80x
Bourton 15 2419.35x
Steventon 13 1130.43x
Aston 12 4.74x
Stanway 12 3157.89x
Maidstone 11 29.67x
Beer Crocombe 10 5882.35x
Church Lawford 10 3030.30x
Islington London 10 2.83x
Rhydgwern 9 2903.23x
Ashchurch 7 833.33x
Blockley 7 260.22x
Brightwell 7 909.09x
Malew 7 118.24x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 8.72x
Kings Norton 6 14.04x
Leamington 6 98.36x
Oswaldtwistle 6 39.22x
Blackburn 5 4.34x
Falsgrave 5 93.81x
Glasgow 5 2.39x
Hulme 5 5.53x
Leamington Priors 5 22.08x
Poplar London 5 7.26x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 46.86x
Tewkesbury 5 78.25x
Burnham 4 89.29x
Caversham 4 88.69x
Thelnetham 4 816.33x
Westminster St John 4 9.00x
Islip 3 422.54x
Llandaff 3 14.20x
Rushen 3 65.50x
Shipston On Stour 3 138.25x
Wickham Market 3 163.04x
Abingdon St Helen 2 24.97x
Aldbury 2 175.44x
Bloxham 2 90.50x
Bradford 2 2.29x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 30.67x
Bristol St Paul In 2 10.49x
Camberwell 2 0.86x
Church 2 32.73x
Ipswich St Peter 2 33.44x
Lympston 2 147.06x
Stoke By Nayland 2 138.89x
West Monkton 2 155.04x
Barcombe 1 67.57x
Battersea 1 0.74x
Bermondsey 1 0.92x
Chiswick 1 5.02x
Claypole 1 117.65x
Devonport 1 11.45x
Dunchurch 1 79.37x
East Stonehouse 1 6.68x
Hereford All Sts 1 14.60x
Kensington London 1 0.49x
Manningham 1 2.25x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.79x
Paddington London 1 0.75x
Radford Semele 1 142.86x
Raithby In Spilsby 1 526.32x
Richmond 1 4.01x
Rugby 1 8.03x
Shadwell London 1 9.79x
Sharnbrook 1 95.24x
Shoreditch London 1 0.63x
St George Hanover 1 2.10x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.58x
Stapleton 1 7.37x
Walsall Foreign 1 1.57x
Walton On Hill 1 4.26x
Withington 1 128.21x
Woodstock 1 70.92x
Wrexham Abbot 1 28.90x
Wroxton 1 120.48x
Yeovil 1 8.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 20
Mary 19
Elizabeth 12
Emma 10
Annie 9
Ellen 9
Jane 8
Charlotte 7
Emily 6
Catherine 5
Maria 5
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Louisa 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Laura 2
Susan 2
Alfly 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Ducas 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Imogen 1
Jemima 1
Jessy 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lilla 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Margt.Ann 1
Martha 1
Norah 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Rossana 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 24
William 23
John 20
George 17
Henry 10
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Albert 5
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Benjamin 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Job 2
Samuel 2
Willm. 2
Charley 1
Clifford 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ephraim 1
Fred 1
Gregory 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Jim. 1
Mary 1
Noah 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Prew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 364 people were recorded with the Prew surname. That placed it at #8,525 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 618 in 2016. That gives Prew a modern rank of #8,511.

What does the Prew surname mean?

A surname derived from a word meaning "brave" or "courageous" in an English dialect.

What does the Prew map show?

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