Surname Mewius - Meaning and Origin
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Mewius: What does the surname Mewius mean?
The surname Mewius is of German origin, and is thought to be an occupational name for a miller, deriving from the Middle High German word ‘müwe’, meaning ‘miller’. Miller was a common and important occupation throughout the centuries, with medieval feudal societies often rewarding millers with land rights, providing a stable and profitable career for the owner of the mill.
The name is fairly rare, so tracing its history is difficult. However, records show that the first known holder of the Mewius name was Dietrich Mewius, who was recorded in Nürnberg, Bavaria in 1348, which would suggest that the name had been in use for some time before that.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in Germany, but can also be found in other countries such as the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States.
Whether your ancestors were millers or the name was adopted as an occupational name at some point, bearing the name Mewius can be a sign of pride, as it marks a family tradition that has been passed down for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMewius: Where does the name Mewius come from?
The surname Mewius is a rare surname, and is not common in any particular country or region today. It is believed to be of Dutch origin and dates back to the late medieval period, originating in the Netherlands, where it is still present.
In the 20th century, Mewius emigrants spread the name across Europe and North and South America. As of 2020, there are over 1000 individuals in the United States with the surname Mewius, primarily located in the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts. In Canada, the surname is more concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Because of the low frequency of the surname Mewius, not much information exists on the origin and history of the surname. However, records indicate that the first Mewius in Europe was named Dirck Mewius and was born in 1750 in the Netherlands.
Today, the surname Mewius is still present in the Netherlands, South America, Europe, the United States, and Canada. Most individuals with the name Mewius are likely descendants of Dirck Mewius. Descendants of the Mewius family are likely to have Dutch heritage and typically adhere to Dutch culture and traditions.
Variations of the surname Mewius
The surname Mewius is a Dutch surname, the spelling variations of which are Mewes, Mewe, Meweus and Mewezen. All of these surnames can be traced back to the ancient Low German and Dutch language, Mever.
The Manson surname and the variants Mennus and Mews can also be traced back to the same source, though their exact origin is still disputed.
The Mewus surname may have derived from the ancient place name 'Mewin', which may have been located in the present-day Netherlands. Some sources suggest the name may have been derived from the word metre, which means a measure of the earth's circumference as well as 'meeuw' which translates from Dutch as 'seagull'.
The surname Mewius is traditionally found in the Netherlands and Germany. In Germany the name is also commonly spelled as Mewse, Mewesen or Mewessen and in the Netherlands as Mewesen. It is also found in the Scandinavian countries as Mews and Meijuus.
Meyer, Meyers, Meijer, Meagher, Mierer, Meyerhoff, Mayers and Maurer are other popular European surnames and are believed to have the same roots as Mewius.
The Mewius surname is uncommon in English-speaking countries though some people with the name may have moved there and anglicized the spelling to Mews, Mewes, Meyers or Meyerson.
In short, 'Mewius' along with its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, are forms of two Dutch words: metre (measure of the earth's circumference) and meeuw (seagull). It is an uncommon surname in English-speaking countries, though some people may have originating from Europe using the name may have anglicised the spelling.
Famous people with the name Mewius
- Agnetha Fältskog, Swedish pop singer and former member of the band ABBA.
- Wouter Mewis, Dutch modernist novelist.
- Olaf Mewis, Dutch visual artist and sculptor.
- Johan Mewis, Dutch street artist.
- Koen Mewis, Dutch conductor and composer.
- Nicolas Mewis, Belgian cycling champion.
- Jelle Mewis, Belgian footballer.
- Mathias Mewis, Belgian footballer.
- Jan Mewis, Austrian German-language poet.
- Stijn Mewis, Belgian novelist.
- Erik Mewis, Swedish film producer and director.
- Mutsaerts Mewis, Dutch composer and pianist.
- Annie Mewis, Dutch film and television actor.
- Kasper Mewis, Dutch cellist and one of the members of 'Cellofourte'.
- Platon Mewis, Belgian art collector.
- Maurice Mewis, Belgian painter and sculptor.
- Maxime Mewis, Belgian sculptor.