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

Bew, 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 Bew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bew in America

Bew is the 69996th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bew surname appeared 280 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bew 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 Bew

The surname BEW is an English surname that originated in the county of Wiltshire, England, in the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "beaw," which means "ring" or "bracelet," suggesting that the name may have been originally bestowed upon someone who crafted or traded in such jewelry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BEW surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Beu" and "Bew." This historic document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a valuable insight into the distribution of surnames and their early spellings across England.

During the 13th century, the name was frequently recorded in various forms, such as "Bew," "Bewe," and "Beaw," in the county of Wiltshire, particularly in the areas around Salisbury and Amesbury. This suggests that the name may have originated in or around these regions.

Notable individuals bearing the BEW surname include John Bew (c. 1350-1420), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Salisbury, Wiltshire, who served as a city alderman and was instrumental in the construction of the historic Poultry Cross in the city center. William Bew (1515-1588) was a prominent clergyman and author from Amesbury, Wiltshire, who published several religious texts and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in his hometown.

In the 16th century, the surname Bew was also found in the neighboring county of Somerset, where it appears in records associated with the village of Bew, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa. Thomas Bew (1567-1624), a notable landowner and farmer from Bew, Somerset, is recorded as having bequeathed a significant portion of his estate to the local parish church.

Another prominent figure was Edward Bew (1670-1745), a successful merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England, who played a significant role in the city's thriving maritime trade during the early 18th century. His son, John Bew (1702-1778), continued the family's mercantile legacy and served as a respected member of the Bristol Society of Merchant Venturers.

Throughout its history, the Bew surname has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset, although it has also been found in other parts of England, particularly in the neighboring counties and urban centers where members of the family may have migrated or established themselves.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bew

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

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 Bew 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 Bew 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 Bew was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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