NameCensus.

UK surname

Tew

A British occupational surname referring to a maker of ropes or cords, derived from the Old English "tow."

In the 1881 census there were 1,302 people recorded with the Tew surname, ranking it #3,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,907, ranked #3,334, down from #3,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Sheffield and Twyford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Corby and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tew is 2,109 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.5%.

1881 census count

1,302

Ranked #3,144

Modern count

1,907

2016, ranked #3,334

Peak year

1999

2,109 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tew had 1,302 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,907 in 2016, ranked #3,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,610 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tew 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 727 #3,611
1881 historical 1,302 #3,144
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 1,610 #3,214
1997 modern 1,987 #3,069
1998 modern 2,103 #3,034
1999 modern 2,109 #3,046
2000 modern 2,103 #3,035
2001 modern 2,042 #3,059
2002 modern 2,017 #3,151
2003 modern 1,963 #3,165
2004 modern 1,966 #3,164
2005 modern 1,891 #3,225
2006 modern 1,884 #3,254
2007 modern 1,899 #3,256
2008 modern 1,912 #3,258
2009 modern 1,970 #3,255
2010 modern 2,003 #3,277
2011 modern 1,965 #3,281
2012 modern 1,887 #3,346
2013 modern 1,918 #3,351
2014 modern 1,937 #3,346
2015 modern 1,904 #3,357
2016 modern 1,907 #3,334

Geography

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Where Tews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Sheffield, Twyford, London parishes and Stoke Bruerne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Corby, Warwick and Bridgend. 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 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Twyford Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Stoke Bruerne Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 047 Cheshire East
2 Corby 002 Corby
3 Warwick 005 Warwick
4 Bridgend 002 Bridgend
5 Cheshire East 039 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tew

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Tew is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Tew is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Tew

The surname "Tew" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "teag," which means "enclosed land" or "fenced area." This suggests that the name was originally used to identify someone who lived on or owned an enclosed piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Tew" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several places with the name "Tew," such as Tew in Oxfordshire and Tew Green in Herefordshire.

In the 13th century, the name "Tew" appears in various forms, including "Tewe," "Teuue," and "Teawe." These variations likely reflected the different spellings and pronunciations used in different regions of England.

One notable individual with the surname "Tew" was Sir Brian Tew, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent figure in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Sir Brian Tew fought alongside the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

Another prominent person with the "Tew" surname was William Tew, who was born in England in 1619. William Tew was a Baptist minister and one of the founders of the first Baptist church in North America, established in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638.

In the 17th century, the name "Tew" also appeared in various place names, such as Tew Green in Oxfordshire and Tew Park in Middlesex. These place names further reinforced the connection between the surname "Tew" and its association with enclosed or fenced areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname "Tew" include:

1. Edward Tew (c. 1590-1617), an English pirate and privateer known for his exploits in the Caribbean and off the coast of East Africa. 2. Richard Tew (c. 1670-1718), an English pirate who operated in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. 3. John Tew (1633-1689), an English nonconformist minister and author. 4. Henry Tew (1785-1865), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London. 5. William Tew (1796-1882), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tew 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 181 Tews recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.60x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 181 5.60x
Northamptonshire 176 14.60x
Staffordshire 139 3.21x
Middlesex 131 1.02x
Buckinghamshire 86 11.10x
Leicestershire 71 5.00x
Cheshire 67 2.37x
Yorkshire 63 0.50x
Lancashire 56 0.37x
Surrey 39 0.62x
Hertfordshire 37 4.19x
Shropshire 37 3.34x
Oxfordshire 31 3.92x
Worcestershire 25 1.49x
Herefordshire 19 3.62x
Somerset 16 0.78x
Devon 13 0.49x
Monmouthshire 13 1.40x
Bedfordshire 12 1.81x
Hampshire 12 0.46x
Essex 11 0.43x
Gloucestershire 11 0.44x
Derbyshire 9 0.45x
Carmarthenshire 8 1.48x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.46x
Sussex 8 0.37x
Kent 6 0.14x
West Lothian 6 3.11x
Lanarkshire 5 0.12x
Lincolnshire 5 0.24x
Wiltshire 5 0.44x
Radnorshire 3 2.90x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Bruern in Northamptonshire leads with 40 Tews recorded in 1881 and an index of 1084.01x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Bruern 40 1084.01x
Birmingham 32 2.97x
Hulme 29 9.13x
Standon 28 308.03x
Leicester St Margaret 27 7.79x
Shalstone 26 3170.73x
Twyford 24 975.61x
Sheffield 22 5.44x
Islington London 20 1.61x
Nantwich 20 60.83x
Newcastle Under Lyme 19 24.82x
Leamington Priors 18 22.63x
Aston 17 1.91x
Drayton In Hales 17 74.46x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 3.71x
Willenhall 16 19.74x
Barford St John 15 4166.67x
Warwick St Mary 15 53.46x
Buckingham 14 88.83x
Kidderminster Borough 14 14.29x
Northampton St Sepulchre 14 22.83x
Bedminster 13 6.71x
Leire 13 1040.00x
St Pancras London 13 1.26x
Acton 12 15.97x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 12 415.22x
Paulerspury 12 239.52x
Castle Church 11 42.29x
Rugby 11 25.15x
Audlem 10 149.93x
Bubbenhall 10 869.57x
Marston Moretaine 10 193.42x
Burslem 9 7.26x
Croydon 9 2.60x
Lutterworth 9 103.93x
Maldon All Sts 9 179.28x
Northampton Priory St 9 12.44x
Stean 9 4736.84x
Towcester 9 72.41x
Trevethin 9 10.28x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 37.96x
Beswick 8 20.57x
Burton Extra 8 32.25x
Carmarthen St Peter 8 17.32x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 8.29x
Dunchurch 8 181.41x
Knottingley 8 35.84x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.79x
Sandal Magna 8 42.60x
Shilton 8 439.56x
Walsall Foreign 8 3.58x
Whittlebury 8 368.66x
Willaston In Nantwich 8 91.64x
Bilton 7 93.96x
Broseley 7 35.57x
Camberwell 7 0.85x
Cheslyn Hay 7 88.61x
Derby St Werburgh 7 6.04x
Hackney London 7 0.97x
Hornsea 7 86.85x
Hornsey 7 4.32x
Leckhampton 7 45.19x
Leicester All Sts 7 25.08x
Mortlake 7 25.15x
Newton In Makerfield 7 15.03x
Pershore St Andrew 7 75.76x
Shavington Cum Gresty 7 149.57x
Swinford 7 395.48x
Syresham 7 199.43x
Uttoxeter 7 31.60x
Chelsea London 6 1.55x
Cliddesden 6 408.16x
Coventry St Michael 6 5.78x
Dalmeny 6 81.30x
Lambeth 6 0.54x
Norton Canes 6 38.05x
Roade 6 189.87x
Stowe Nine Churches 6 530.97x
Westminster St James 6 4.55x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 22.71x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 93
Thomas 63
John 55
George 38
Henry 30
Joseph 26
James 25
Edward 24
Arthur 22
Samuel 21
Charles 18
Richard 16
Albert 14
Alfred 14
Frederick 14
Walter 14
Robert 12
Ernest 11
Herbert 8
Wm. 8
Edwin 6
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Abel 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Percy 3
Abraham 2
Augustus 2
Clement 2
Cyril 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Martin 2
Tom 2
Wm.Thos. 2
Bertram 1
Bruce 1
Caleb 1
Emanuel 1
Ernst 1
Esau 1
Ezekiel 1
Felix 1

FAQ

Tew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,302 people were recorded with the Tew surname. That placed it at #3,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,907 in 2016. That gives Tew a modern rank of #3,334.

What does the Tew surname mean?

A British occupational surname referring to a maker of ropes or cords, derived from the Old English "tow."

What does the Tew map show?

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