NameCensus.

UK surname

Shewan

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a shepherd or sheepherder.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Shewan surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 591, ranked #8,825, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lerwick, Gateshead and Longside. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Deer and Mormond and Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shewan is 591 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.7%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

591

2016, ranked #8,825

Peak year

2016

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shewan had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016, ranked #8,825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 463 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Shewan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shewan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shewan 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 253 #8,709
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 463 #8,526
1911 historical 160 #17,151
1997 modern 506 #9,218
1998 modern 531 #9,164
1999 modern 536 #9,159
2000 modern 541 #9,070
2001 modern 536 #8,979
2002 modern 542 #9,074
2003 modern 540 #8,967
2004 modern 544 #8,933
2005 modern 549 #8,798
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 541 #9,006
2008 modern 541 #9,087
2009 modern 544 #9,247
2010 modern 559 #9,245
2011 modern 550 #9,268
2012 modern 538 #9,343
2013 modern 566 #9,109
2014 modern 578 #9,034
2015 modern 580 #8,953
2016 modern 591 #8,825

Geography

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Where Shewans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lerwick, Gateshead, Longside, Dunrossness and Monymusk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Deer and Mormond, Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward, South Speyside and the Cabrach and Forres Central East and seaward. 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 Lerwick Shetland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Longside Aberdeen
4 Dunrossness Shetland
5 Monymusk Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Deer and Mormond Aberdeenshire
3 Mosstodloch, Portgordon and seaward Moray
4 South Speyside and the Cabrach Moray
5 Forres Central East and seaward Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shewan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shewan

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Shewan 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

Shewan 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

Shewan falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shewan 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 Shewan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Shewan

The surname SHEWAN originates from Scotland and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Seaghdhuinn," which means "descended from the stranger" or "pilgrim." The name is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly around the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SHEWAN can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Gilbertus Scheuhan is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the SHEWAN surname appears in various historical records, such as the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1545, where a James Schewan is listed. The name is also found in the Commissariot Records of Glasgow in 1573, where a John Schewan is mentioned.

The surname SHEWAN has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Shewan (1505-1572), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who held significant estates in Argyllshire.

Another prominent figure was Archibald Shewan (1672-1733), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a pivotal role in the development of the tobacco trade between Scotland and the American colonies.

In the 19th century, Robert Shewan (1818-1892) was a notable Scottish architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

John Shewan (1857-1932), a Scottish businessman and politician, served as a Member of Parliament for the East Renfrewshire constituency from 1906 to 1918.

Lastly, Sir Andrew Shewan (1880-1957), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to education and medical research in Scotland. He established the Shewan Trust, which provided funding for various charitable causes.

The SHEWAN surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Shewanside and Shewanton, indicating the historical presence of families bearing this name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shewan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shewan 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 192 Shewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.64x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 192 55.64x
Shetland 69 181.29x
Durham 35 3.16x
Middlesex 12 0.32x
Banffshire 11 14.23x
Lanarkshire 11 0.91x
Midlothian 11 2.20x
Nairnshire 8 70.36x
Kincardineshire 6 13.22x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Morayshire 4 6.91x
Northumberland 4 0.72x
Ross-shire 4 3.91x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Berkshire 2 0.72x
East Lothian 1 2.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.90x
Kent 1 0.08x
Renfrewshire 1 0.35x
Somerset 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunrossness in Shetland leads with 59 Shewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1177.64x.

Place Total Index
Dunrossness 59 1177.64x
Peterhead 54 295.89x
Longside 21 509.71x
Westoe 20 31.83x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 23.23x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 19.43x
Monkwearmouth 14 131.95x
Lerwick Gulberwick 10 169.78x
Strichen 10 333.33x
Inveravon 9 273.56x
Auldearn 8 481.93x
Rayne 8 487.80x
Barony 7 2.30x
Echt 7 421.69x
Foveran 7 268.20x
Midmar 7 526.32x
Monymusk 7 472.97x
Paddington London 7 5.11x
North Leith 6 25.97x
Oyne 6 487.80x
Fordoun 5 196.85x
Fraserburgh 5 51.49x
Keithhall 5 442.48x
Barrow In Furness 4 6.65x
Belhelvie 4 169.49x
Bradford 4 4.47x
Byker 4 14.59x
Elgin 4 35.52x
Drumoak 3 252.10x
Govan 3 1.01x
Hampstead London 3 5.17x
Cookham 2 22.94x
Dingwall 2 69.44x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.00x
Insch 2 102.04x
Kemnay 2 95.69x
Mortlach 2 53.05x
Newhills 2 28.29x
Urquhart 2 143.88x
Alford 1 53.19x
Berwick North 1 28.90x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.05x
Bow London 1 2.11x
Chapel Of Garioch 1 40.65x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 7.54x
Crathie Braemar 1 48.54x
Cruden 1 22.52x
Daviot 1 151.52x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 15.15x
Edinburgh New 1 25.77x
Fetteresso 1 14.06x
Fyvie 1 17.76x
Glasgow 1 0.47x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kincardine O Neil 1 40.65x
Leith North 1 104.17x
Lonmay 1 31.95x
Methlick 1 36.23x
Peterculter 1 41.15x
Port Glasgow 1 7.16x
Skene 1 43.67x
South Uist 1 12.89x
St Decumans Watchet 1 65.79x
Tarves 1 30.67x
Udny 1 47.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Ann 2
Eleanor 2
Janet 2
Annie 1
Christiana 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.H. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ezth.J. 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Jemima 1
Margaret 1
Margt.A. 1
Rebecca 1
Sophie 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Alexander 3
Charles 3
William 3
James 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alexanda 1
Geo.W. 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Magnes 1
Robert 1
Wm.T. 1

Top occupations

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 Shewan households.

FAQ

Shewan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shewan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Shewan surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shewan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 591 in 2016. That gives Shewan a modern rank of #8,825.

What does the Shewan surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a shepherd or sheepherder.

What does the Shewan map show?

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