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

Hew, 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 Hew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hew in America

Hew is the 37544th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hew surname appeared 593 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 Hew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hew 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 Hew

The surname Hew is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hēawan," meaning "to cut" or "to hew." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with occupations related to woodcutting, carpentry, or stone masonry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hew can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Hugh le Heuere," indicating a connection to the occupation of a hewer or woodcutter.

In the 13th century, the surname Hew began to appear in various records across England. For instance, a Richard le Hewer was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. The spelling variations during this period included Hewer, Huer, and Huere, reflecting the evolving nature of surnames in the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Hew throughout history include:

1. William Hew (c. 1460 - 1530), a renowned English architect and master mason who contributed to the construction of Hampton Court Palace and Westminster Abbey.

2. John Hew (1558 - 1629), an English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his expeditions to the West Indies and South America.

3. Elizabeth Hew (1670 - 1741), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Gloucestershire, known for her influential sermons and pamphlets advocating religious tolerance.

4. Thomas Hew (1795 - 1872), a Scottish inventor and engineer who patented several innovations in textile machinery, contributing to the industrial revolution.

5. Alice Hew (1860 - 1938), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century.

While the surname Hew may have originated from occupational roots, it has evolved over the centuries, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions across various fields, from architecture and exploration to religious reform and civil rights movements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hew

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

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

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

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