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

Hewey, 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 Hewey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hewey in America

Hewey is the 51281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hewey surname appeared 406 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 Hewey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hewey 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 Hewey

The surname Hewey is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hewed," which means "dweller by the hedged enclosure." The name is closely associated with the coastal regions of Cornwall and Devon in southwestern England.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where one Richard le Hewey was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various tax rolls and parish records, often with variations in spelling, such as Hewy, Hewye, and Huey. These variations were common during that era due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.

One notable mention of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William Hewey is listed as a taxpayer. This record provides evidence of the name's spread beyond its initial stronghold in the southwest of England.

The name Hewey has also been associated with several place names in England, particularly in Cornwall and Devon. For instance, there is a village called Hewey in Cornwall, which may have influenced the surname's origin or served as a place of residence for early bearers of the name.

Among the notable people who carried the Hewey surname throughout history, one can mention:

1. John Hewey (c. 1490 - 1558), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bodmin in Cornwall during the reign of Queen Mary I.

2. Thomas Hewey (1615 - 1687), a prominent merchant and ship owner from Devon, who played a significant role in the development of the local shipping industry.

3. Elizabeth Hewey (1723 - 1801), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Cornwall, known for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and her contributions to traditional medicine.

4. Samuel Hewey (1775 - 1842), an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "The History of Cornwall," which provided valuable insights into the county's history and culture.

5. William Hewey (1820 - 1888), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Devon, who contributed significantly to the development of local infrastructure and social welfare initiatives in his community.

While the surname Hewey has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its origins and variants have been well-documented, reflecting the rich tapestry of English surnames and their connections to regional identities and occupations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hewey

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

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

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

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