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

Drews, 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 Drews surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Drews in America

Drews is the 8862nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Drews surname appeared 3,695 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 Drews.

We can also compare 2010 data for Drews 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 Drews

The surname Drews is of German origin, derived from the Middle Low German word "drove," meaning a drove or herd of cattle or sheep. It likely emerged as an occupational surname, referring to a cattle or sheep drover who would drive herds to market or grazing pastures.

The earliest recorded instances of the Drews surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of northern Germany, particularly in the areas around Hamburg and Bremen. Historical records from this period, such as parish registers and tax rolls, contain variations of the spelling, including Drews, Drewes, and Drewse.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Hans Drewes, a merchant and landowner mentioned in the municipal records of the city of Lübeck in 1412. Another notable figure was Dietrich Drews, a prominent lawyer and jurist who lived in the 16th century and served as a legal advisor to the Prince-Bishopric of Münster.

In the 17th century, the Drews surname gained prominence with the birth of Johann Drews (1625-1698), a renowned Lutheran theologian and author from Pomerania. His works, including "Systema Theologiae" and "Concordia Practica," were widely influential in shaping Protestant theology during that period.

Another significant figure was Johann Samuel Drews (1715-1779), a German philologist and educator who served as the rector of the prestigious Grauen Kloster (Grey Friars' Convent School) in Berlin during the 18th century. His contributions to the field of classical studies and his efforts in reforming educational practices earned him widespread recognition.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Arthur Drews (1865-1935), a German philosopher and religious scholar known for his controversial work "The Christ Myth," in which he challenged the historical existence of Jesus Christ. Despite facing criticism from religious authorities, his work sparked intense debates and discussions within academic circles.

Over the centuries, the Drews surname has been associated with various notable individuals who have made significant contributions in fields ranging from theology and law to education and philosophy. While the name originated as an occupational surname, it has since become a well-established surname across Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as in communities with German ancestry worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Drews

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

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

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

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