Surname Drewe - Meaning and Origin
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Drewe: What does the surname Drewe mean?
The last name Drewe is derived from the Middle English word "drew", meaning a "pen or brook". It is thought to have originated as a topographical or locational surname, derived from someone living near a channel of water.
Drewe has several variants, including Drew, Dru, Drewitt, Drewery and Drow. It is also common in both England and America, but its popularity is primarily in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, where the name originated. Its geographical spread is likely due to settlers from these areas who moved elsewhere.
Drewe is also thought to be a patronymic name, with its origin being the personal name "Drew", which was a nickname for "Andrew". This could suggest that the surname is not connected to the geography of these areas but instead derived from someone with the first name of Andrew.
The surname Drewe has also been known to be spelled as Druwe, which could be a variation of the Dutch name Drucke. This suggests that the surname may have a Dutch origin, which could also explain the geographic spread of the name.
Overall, the last name Drewe has Old English origins, with links to geography and personal names. It is most common in the south west of England. It is also thought that it may have derived from a Dutch name, although this is disputed.
Order DNA origin analysisDrewe: Where does the name Drewe come from?
The last name Drewe is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old English ‘Dreow’, meaning a pool or a deep place. It is most common in Devon, England. There it is found most commonly in the ancient little villages of Drewsteignton, Drewsey, and Drewstempsford. All three of these villages have been known to have ties to the Drewe family and are believed to have been first settled by ancestors of the same surname.
The name is still relatively common in the Devon area, with 63 people bearing the surname recorded as living there at the end of the last census. Among the rest of England, the name is less common. The recent records of the United Kingdom census indicate that there are now only 564 people with the last name Drewe, making it a rare surname.
Interestingly, the last name also appears to be present in other countries, such as Australia, where 10 people of the Drewe surname live. In the USA, 10 people are listed as living with the name; Canada 94, New Zealand 7, and South Africa 4.
It seems, then, that although not highly common, the last name Drewe is still around. It's likely that as time passes, and more and more descendants of the original settlers of Drewsteignton, Drewsey, and Drewstempsford marry out and migrate to other countries, the name will become even less common, until it may eventually disappear entirely.
Variations of the surname Drewe
The surname Drewe has numerous variants, alternatives spellings and related surnames.
Variant spellings include: Drew, Drewes, Drawe, Drewery, Drewett, Drewry, Drewy, Drewey, Drury and Druery.
The surnames of the same origin include Drewery, Drewry, Drevery, Drooge and Drury.
Drew is derived from the Old English ‘drēaw’, meaning ‘ghost’ or ‘soul’. The surname Drewe could have been given to someone regarded as such, someone who was generally considered to be of an otherworldly presence. Alternately, the name could also have been given to someone who lived in a secluded place, such as a hollow or meadow, making them more prone to sightings of spirits.
The ancient Anglo-Saxon descended family of Drewe was part of the aristocracy of early Britain.
The surname Drewe is a patronymic surname, or a name derived by adding a prefix or suffix to a given name or father's name. One of the most common patronymic prefixes being 'O' and 'Mac' (for Irish origins). This practice was most common in the British Isles after the 11th century AD in this part of Europe.
In modern times, the Drewe surname has become a more common and widely used surname. It can be found throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Famous people with the name Drewe
- Thea Drewe: British actress
- Patrick Drewe: British physician
- John Drewe: former British Minister of Agriculture
- Sir John Drewe: former knighted British-Irish soldier
- Mary Drewe: British artist
- Michael Drewe: British casting director and film producer
- Dr. Katherine Drewe: British psychiatrist
- Prof. Andrew Drewe: British physicist
- Anthony Drewe: British producer and lyricist
- Geoffrey Drewe: British musician and songwriter
- David Drewe: British actor and music producer
- Sir Robert Drewe: British politician
- Dr. George Drewe: British critic
- John Drewe: British engineer
- Tony Drewe: British architect
- Rev. John Drewe: British clergyman
- Andrew Drewe: English author and editor
- belinda Drewe: British photographer
- Robin Drewe: British artist
- John Drewe Stukeley: British naturalist and archaeologist