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

Tew, 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 Tew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tew in America

Tew is the 6470th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tew surname appeared 5,247 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 Tew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tew 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 Tew

The surname "Tew" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "teag," which means "enclosed land" or "fenced area." This suggests that the name was originally used to identify someone who lived on or owned an enclosed piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Tew" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several places with the name "Tew," such as Tew in Oxfordshire and Tew Green in Herefordshire.

In the 13th century, the name "Tew" appears in various forms, including "Tewe," "Teuue," and "Teawe." These variations likely reflected the different spellings and pronunciations used in different regions of England.

One notable individual with the surname "Tew" was Sir Brian Tew, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent figure in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Sir Brian Tew fought alongside the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

Another prominent person with the "Tew" surname was William Tew, who was born in England in 1619. William Tew was a Baptist minister and one of the founders of the first Baptist church in North America, established in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638.

In the 17th century, the name "Tew" also appeared in various place names, such as Tew Green in Oxfordshire and Tew Park in Middlesex. These place names further reinforced the connection between the surname "Tew" and its association with enclosed or fenced areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname "Tew" include:

1. Edward Tew (c. 1590-1617), an English pirate and privateer known for his exploits in the Caribbean and off the coast of East Africa.
2. Richard Tew (c. 1670-1718), an English pirate who operated in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
3. John Tew (1633-1689), an English nonconformist minister and author.
4. Henry Tew (1785-1865), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
5. William Tew (1796-1882), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tew

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

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

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

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