Surname Hewet - Meaning and Origin

Hewet: What does the surname Hewet mean?

The surname Hewet is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the personal name Hewett, a diminutive form of the name Hugh. Hugh is a French name of Germanic origin, coming from the word "hud", which means "heart" or "mind". Therefore, the surname Hewet could be loosely interpreted to mean "small heart" or "small mind". It's important to note that this isn't a negative connotation, the term "small" instead shows endearment. This surname dates back to the early Middle Ages in England, and variations of the surname include Hewitt, Hewlett, and Hewett. The surname has a long history and has been spread all around the world due to emigration. As with many surnames originating from personal names, this surname has many coats of arms associated with different families, all of which have variations of the name Hewet.

Hewet: Where does the name Hewet come from?

The surname Hewet is believed to have stemmed from early medieval English origin. It is derived from the personal name Hugh, with the diminutive suffix "-et" signifying "little Hugh". As surnames became necessary due to bureaucratic and taxation purposes, the suffix was often used to differentiate among bearers of the same personal name. This practice eventually led to the formation of the surname Hewet.

Variations of the name include Hewett, Hewitt, Huet, Huett, and Huit. In the Middle Ages, the name was popular among the Norsemen, landed in Ireland as invaders, and later became established in various parts of Ireland and northern England.

Today, the surname is quite common in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. There also continue to be a notable amount of people with the Hewet surname in Ireland and northern England. Despite its geographical expansion, it's still not a very common surname worldwide. The surname continues to hold its historical significance as a reminder of its Viking roots and Norman introduction into English society.

Variations of the surname Hewet

The surname Hewet actually has various spellings, variants, and related surnames which could potentially signify the same lineage. Variations may have resulted from different factors such as regional dialects, illiteracy, and translation between languages.

The prominent variations and spellings of the surname Hewet include Hewett, Hewitt, Huet, Huett, Huit, Huitte, Hewat, Heewet, and Hewit. Some variations focus on the first syllable: Hew, while others play with the final syllable:ett, it, at, or et.

There are other surnames that are very similar to Hewet but might not be of the same origin, such as Huer, Huart, and Hewer. Furthermore, in some circumstances, Hewet could be a variant of the surname Hewson.

All these variants share the same probable origin: a personal name with elements "hug" meaning "heart, mind, spirit" and "hard", translated as "hardy, brave, strong". So the surname ideally originally referred to a person with qualities of bravery or strength.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the exact relation, origin, or commonality of these names cannot be definitively determined without detailed genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Hewet

• Hugh Hewett: British former professional rugby union footballer
• Gail Hewitt: Canadian wheelchair curler
• Rose Hewet: Jamaican-British singer-songwriter
• Pamela Hewett: British model and beauty queen
• Nancy Hewett: professional tennis player from the United States
• Wallace Hewett: Canadian politician
• John Hewett: British stage and television actor
• Craig Hewett: English professional cricketer
• Thomas Hewett Francis: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Paul Hewett: former Canadian Member of Parliament
• William Hewett: British former Royal Navy officer
• Jimmy Hewett: English professional footballer
• Brian Hewett: former English professional footballer
• Graham Hewett: British former professional footballer
• Colin Hewett: English professional footballer
• Martin Hewett: Canadian professional hockey player
• Alfred Hewett: Australian professional cricket player
• Thomas Hewett: Australian politician
• Percy Hewett: English professional cricketer
• Caroline Hewett: Australian politician

Other surnames

HeweckerHewekerHewesHewetsonHewett