Surname Hewitt - Meaning and Origin

An Emotional Journey through iGENEA DNA Test: Discovering My Hewitt Heritage

Taking the iGENEA DNA test provided an overwhelming and emotional connection to my ancestral lineage with the surname 'Hewitt', and instilled a deeper understanding and respect for my family's past and our shared journey through thousands of years.

A. Hewitt

Hewitt: What does the surname Hewitt mean?

The last name Hewitt is of Old French origin and is derived from the Old French personal name Hugui, which itself comes from the Old German name Hugh. The name means "heart" or "spirit", showing characteristics of intelligence and courage. As such, the last name Hewitt suggests that the original bearer of the name had these qualities. It's also common to find the name in the form of Hewett, Hewit, Howitt and others, depending on the region and period. The name spread to England following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century and over time became one of the prominent surnames in the region.

Hewitt: Where does the name Hewitt come from?

The surname Hewitt is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old French personal name "Hugues" or "Hue", which in turn comes from the Old Germanic "Hugo". These were introduced to England by Normans during the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name later transformed into "Hew", a medieval personal nickname, and "itt", a diminutive suffix; so, Hewitt means "little Hew". Many instances of the name are recorded in the Domesday Book, a survey of England and Wales completed in 1086.

An early recording of the name is of William Hewet in 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire. Variations of the surname include Hewett, Hewet and Hewat.

Today, the surname Hewitt is common in English-speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is particularly concentrated in Northern England, specifically Yorkshire. Over the years, several notable people have carried the surname, including the British royal biographer Jennifer Hewitt and Australian professional tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.

Variations of the surname Hewitt

The surname Hewitt, often of English origin, has several versions, each deriving from the medieval personal name Huet or Huot, which are diminutives of Hugh. There are many variations, alternative spellings, and related surnames due to regional accents, migrations, and changing languages. Some common alternative spellings and variants include Hewett, Hewet, Hewat, Hewetson, and Hewison.

The surname also came into existence through phonetic interpretations. It may have been penned differently because of the way the name sounded when spoken. Thus, Hewit, Hewet, and Huett are also considered variants of this surname. Additionally, dialect and language differences over time and across regions have contributed to the variety of the surname.

Some other plausible spellings of the surname can include Huit, Hueitt, Huett, and Hewitson. The addition of "son" at the end, as in Hewitson, is commonly seen in some English surnames where "son" denotes "son of" or "descendant of" in Hewitt's case.

Yet, it is always possible that some variations can be standalone names, having unique roots and origins different from Hewitt. Therefore, genealogical or historical research is recommended to confirm the origins of specific surname variants.

Famous people with the name Hewitt

• Jennifer Love Hewitt: An American actress, singer, and producer. She rose to fame with her role in the TV drama series “Party of Five” and starring roles in films including “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Can’t Hardly Wait”.
• David Hewitt: An American aerospace engineer and discoverer of the first exoplanet to be detected in 1989. Hewitt's exoplanet, known as Gamma Cephei Ab, is one of the largest known exoplanets.
• William Lyon Mackenzie King: A former Canadian Prime Minister. King held the office from 1921 to 1930 and again from 1935 to 1948. He is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Canadian history.
• Richard Hewitt: An American professional wrestler, manager and commentator. Hewitt was best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling in the 1990s.
• Abigail Hewitt: An English actress who is best known for her role as Linda Laverick in the BBC series “The Bill” and Donna Attwood in ITV soap opera “Emmerdale”.
• Brian Hewitt: An American former National Basketball Association player. Hewitt played for six different NBA teams over a 10-year period, from 1986 to 1996.
• Chris Hewitt: A British film critic and broadcaster. He is a former deputy editor of Empire magazine and now the senior film and theatre critic of Stylist magazine.
• Griffith Hewitt: A British DJ and radio presenter, best known for presenting the drive time show on Jazz FM in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• Robyn Hewitt: An Australian pop singer who rose to fame in the late 2000s with her first single “Don’t Forget Me”. Hewitt has since released two studio albums, titled “Once In a Lifetime” and “Coming Home”.
• Ross Hewitt: An English wheelchair basketball player who won gold for Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and the 2012 London Paralympics. He was awarded an MBE in 2009 in recognition of his contribution to the Paralympic movement.

Other surnames

Hewit