Diew last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Diew

A variant spelling of "Dew", derived from a medieval English nickname referring to one with a dewy or fresh complexion.

Diew, 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 Diew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Diew in America

Diew is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Diew surname appeared 115 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 Diew.

The history of the last name Diew

The surname DIEW has its origins in England, emerging during the late medieval period around the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "diewhol," which translates to "precious" or "valuable." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who was highly regarded or esteemed within their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DIEW surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where a certain John Diewe is mentioned as a taxpayer. This entry provides valuable insight into the early spelling variations of the name, which often fluctuated due to inconsistent record-keeping practices of the time.

In the late 15th century, the DIEW surname appears in the Paston Letters, a collection of historical correspondence between members of the influential Paston family. The letters mention a Richard Diew, who was a servant in the Paston household, serving as a testament to the widespread use of the surname across various social strata during that era.

Among the notable individuals bearing the DIEW surname throughout history is Sir Thomas Diew, a prominent landowner and military commander who lived in the late 16th century. He was knighted for his valiant service during the Anglo-Spanish War and played a significant role in defending England against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Another figure of historical importance was Elizabeth Diew (1640-1712), a renowned Quaker writer and activist who advocated for religious tolerance and women's rights. Her published works, including "A Treatise on the Inward Light" and "Reflections on the Equality of the Sexes," gained widespread recognition and influenced the Quaker community in England and the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the DIEW surname found its way into the literary world through the works of novelist and playwright William Diew (1725-1789). His most notable work, "The Trials of Virtue," a satirical play commenting on societal norms, was widely acclaimed and performed throughout England during his lifetime.

Additionally, the DIEW surname can be traced back to the village of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, which was once known as "Diewsbury" in its earlier spelling. This connection suggests that some bearers of the surname may have originated from or resided in this area, further solidifying the name's English roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Diew

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

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 Diew was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 6.09% 7
Non-Hispanic Black Only 89.57% 103
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Diew last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/diew-surname-popularity/.

"Diew last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/diew-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Diew last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/diew-surname-popularity/.

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