Find out how popular the last name Belew is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Belew.

Belew, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Belew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belew in America

Belew is the 10427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belew surname appeared 3,086 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Belew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Belew to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Belew

The surname Belew has its origins in England, with records showing its existence as early as the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Bellow, which is now a lost village in Yorkshire. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "belu" and "hlaw," meaning "hill" and "mound," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1190, where a Richard de Belhow is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the locational origin of the name. Another early record can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Henry de Belhou in Cambridgeshire.

In the 14th century, the surname began to appear in various spellings, including Belew, Bellewe, and Bellow. One notable individual from this period was John Belew, a merchant from London who was recorded in the city's records in 1379.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name continued to be widely dispersed across England. In 1567, a William Belew was recorded in the Parish Registers of Whalley, Lancashire. Additionally, a Richard Belew was born in Somerset in 1613, further exemplifying the name's presence in different regions.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Belew. One of the earliest was Sir John Belew, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century and held lands in Huntingdonshire. Another prominent figure was William Belew, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who was born in 1542 and served as the city's mayor in 1594.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition through individuals like Thomas Belew, a renowned English architect born in 1740. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Gloucestershire. Additionally, John Belew, born in 1758, was a prominent British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable bearer of the name was Henry Belew, a British writer and clergyman born in 1818. He authored several influential works on theology and philosophy. Another significant figure was Sir John Belew, a British diplomat and colonial administrator born in 1833, who served as the Governor of New Zealand from 1882 to 1888.

While the surname Belew may have evolved from its locational origins, it has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on history through the contributions of various individuals bearing this name. From merchants and architects to writers and military leaders, the Belew surname has been associated with a diverse array of accomplishments and fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belew

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Belew.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Belew was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Belew has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Belew was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Belew, please contact us.

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