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

Dew, 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 Dew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dew in America

Dew is the 5561st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dew surname appeared 6,252 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Dew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dew 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 Dew

The surname DEW is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the areas of England and Wales during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "deaw," meaning "dew" or "moisture." This name was likely originally a descriptive nickname referring to someone who lived near a particularly dewy area or worked in a damp environment.

One of the earliest known recordings of the name DEW can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Deu" in Somerset. This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name can be found in historical records, such as "Deu" and "Dewe." The variation in spelling was common during this time due to the lack of standardized English orthography.

One notable early bearer of the DEW surname was John Dew, a prominent English merchant who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several trade records from the city of Bristol, indicating his involvement in the wool trade.

Another historical figure with the DEW surname was Thomas Dew (c. 1550-1620), an English clergyman and academic. He served as the Archdeacon of Suffolk and was a renowned scholar of his time.

In the 17th century, the name DEW appeared in various parts of England and Wales, with several individuals making their mark in different fields. One such individual was Edmund Dew (1628-1701), a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Maldon, Essex.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Samuel Dew (1705-1775), an English poet and playwright who was celebrated for his satirical works. His most famous work, "The Satirical Odes," was published in 1737 and received widespread acclaim.

Another notable bearer of the DEW surname was Sir Thomas Dew (1760-1845), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was eventually knighted for his distinguished service.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the DEW surname across various regions of England and Wales, spanning several centuries. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich tapestry of historical figures and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dew

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

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

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

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