Surname Brewis - Meaning and Origin
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Brewis: What does the surname Brewis mean?
The last name Brewis is derived from a Middle English topographic name for someone living near a bridge, derived from the Old English brycg, meaning “bridge”. It was most likely a place name referring to a particular bridge, but was later adopted as a surname by some families.
Brewis is an uncommon variation of the common last name, Brewster, meaning "brewer." It is thought to have originated in England and Scotland over 600 years ago, and is most commonly found in those countries today. As a result, Brewis can also be seen commonly as a Scottish surname.
Brewis is also an alternate spelling of Breuis, an English surname related to the French, Breuil. As a French name, Breuil is said to have originally referred to someone from Breuil-en-Auge in Calvados, France. It most likely was derived from the ancient French term broel or bruel meaning noisy or rough terrain.
Brewis, no matter what its roots, is seen as a strong-sounding name that represents a family with courage and determination. It has the power to motivate those who bear it to succeed in life; a quality admired by many.
Order DNA origin analysisBrewis: Where does the name Brewis come from?
The last name Brewis is a relatively common name in the United Kingdom and Ireland, especially the province of Ulster, located in the northernmost part of the island of Ireland. Brewis is particularly common in counties Antrim and Down, as well as around Belfast and Londonderry, where it is believed to have started as the anglicized version of an ancient Gaelic name.
Brewis is also quite common in Scotland, particularly in the area south of Edinburgh. It is believed to have originated here as an anglicized version of the Gaelic name McBruis.
Brewis is still quite strong in North America, where it is heavily concentrated in Canada. In Canada, the name is most common in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, both of which are home to significant Gaelic-speaking populations. It is also fairly common in Newfoundland, where it is believed to have originated due to strong migration from Scotland.
The Brewis surname is less common in the United States. However there are still pockets of Brewises in the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is also known to have been brought across the Atlantic by immigrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Brewis
Brewis is a common surname of British origin. Many variants and spellings of this surname over the centuries as documents were often recorded by hand have led to the array of forms used today.
The most common forms of the Brewis surname include Brewis, Brewes, Breewes, Breues, Brewe, Breows, Brewos, and Brewose. These spellings mainly originated from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, where many spellings could be found in the 15th to 18th centuries.
Collaboration of spelling variations by different historic clerks, administrators, and chroniclers has caused changes. Variations to the surname Brewis can be illustrated by the surname Brewe, which was a common spelling used in Scotland. Both Brewis and Brewe can be further divided into multiple regional spellings and variations.
Historically, the surname Brewis often carried with it a nickname or descriptor based on a physical feature or physical activity of the original surname holder – often used to distinguish individuals.
Variations of the Brewis surname include Braewes, Brauis, Breawis, Brebies, Breewis, and Brue. Fewer common forms of Brewis could include Breue, Bruas, Brea, and Brouss.
Spelling variants of Brewis are frequently found in land and court records as far back as late medieval England.
The varied spelling of the Brewis surname may ultimately have Germanic, Old French, and/or Middle English sources that closely resembled the modern version.
Famous people with the name Brewis
- Jason Brewis: British actor and television personality known for his work with the BBC and his role as a captain in documentary series Flying With Flare
- Alison Brewis: British artist who creates artwork in various mediums including painting, photography and film
- Freda Brewis: Welsh singer, best known for her cover of “Strangers On The Shore”
- Tom Brewis: modernist painter and sculptor based in London
- Richard Brewis: British author and illustrator of children’s books
- John Brewis: English musician and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Stornoway
- Graham Brewis: British sportsman, former professional footballer and manager of Leeds United
- William Brewis: British admiral and naval strategist who served as the First Sea Lord from 1922 to 1923
- Greg Brewis: Canadian artist and sculptor, leader of the Vancouver art collective “The Lab”
- Mary Brewis: English actress and comedienne, best known for her role in the BBC show, French and Saunders