Surname Kewis - Meaning and Origin

Kewis: What does the surname Kewis mean?

The last name Kewis is of English origin and is believed to be a variation of the surname Davis. It may also be derived from the name "MacDwyer" which was a surname used by Irish people from County Clare.

The surname itself has no literal meaning and was likely used to distinguish between different families of the same name. The name has been found in Germany, as well as England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

In England, the name is most closely associated with the eastern region of Devon, while in Scotland the name is most commonly found in Aberdeenshire, and in Wales the name is seen mostly in the counties of Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire.

The earliest reference to the Kewis surname could be traced back to 1298 when William Kewis was recorded in the Hundred Rolls, which were an accounting of wealth by landowners in England. At this time, the name may have described an occupational role of a weaver or tailor.

Today, the Kewis surname can be found all over the world, with high concentrations in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The name is also in other parts of Europe, such as Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain.

Kewis: Where does the name Kewis come from?

The last name Kewis is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom. The surname is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word 'cwic-sæ'. The original meaning of the term is 'living near a bend in the river'.

In the UK the name is most common in East Anglia, particularly Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. The name is thought to have spread through migrations, as many people moved from Suffolk to other parts of the UK. In addition to the UK, Kewis is also a common name in other parts of Europe, such as France.

The name is also prevalent in the United States, mainly along the east coast and in the Midwest. The name was largely brought to North America by settlers from the UK. As of 2020, the name Kewis ranked 30,845th in the United States according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kewis name is also fairly common in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba. Again, settlers from the UK likely contributed to the spread of this name in Canada.

Overall, the last name Kewis is most common in the United Kingdom, as well as other regions of Europe, the United States, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Kewis

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kewis are Kewiss, Kewisz, Kewitz, Kewisse, Quaas, Quais, Quaiss, Quaiz, Quast, Queiss, Queissen, Queitz, Queiz, Queizel, Queizl, Quetz, Quitz, Quitzow, and Quitzsch.

Kewis is an English and German surname that has a possible origin in multiple regions. Generally, the name Kewis came to Germany from Sweden and into England from the Germanic regions.

In Germany, the surname Kewis derived from the Old German and Middle German words cwis, cwiz, or cwiss, meaning a “strong and brave” individual. In Sweden, the name Kewis originates from the Old Swedish given name Quis, which is a variation of the Old Norse name Kynfriðr.

In England, the name Kewis occasionally derives from the Anglo-Saxon name Cyfeus or Houhaus, which were both given names created from the Old English words cyfe, meaning “civilized” or “settled”, and hou, meaning “compassion”.

The variants, spellings, and surnames outlined above indicate the varied undeniable history of the Kewis surname. Variants of the Kewis surname, like Quaas, can be found in Dutch, Danish, Polish, and other European regions. As global contact has increased over the centuries, families of the same surname have become increasingly spread out around the world, with their variants and spelling changes following suit.

Famous people with the name Kewis

• Joe Kewis: British former professional rugby league footballer
• Dennis Kewis: former professional footballer
• Jenny Kewis: Welsh professional snooker player
• Valeri Kewis: Georgian footballer
• David Kewis: former American soccer midfielder
• Aivar Kewis: Estonian professional footballer
• Daniel Kewis: Slovak football player
• Jody Kewis: English actor, famous for appearing in ‘UFO’ and ‘Crossroads’
• Saul Kewis: English artist and sculptor
• Billy Kewis: former professional goalkeeper
• Thadeus Kewis: South African footballer
• Eli Kewis: Swiss Boogie-Woogie musician
• Clifford Kewis: Para-athlete, silver and bronze medal winner in the Paralympic Games
• Tamsin Kewis: English actress and model
• Daren Kewis: English coach and former professional soccer player
• Elouise Kewis: Welsh artist
• J.D. Kewis: American college baseball coach
• Ryan Kewis: American country music singer
• Errol Kewis: Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer
• Scott Kewis: American snowboarder

Other surnames

Kewish