Surname Tewis - Meaning and Origin

Tewis: What does the surname Tewis mean?

The last name Tewis is of Welsh origin and is believed to derive from the phrase tew is, which translates to strong house. This name typically had two distinct meanings. In the north of Wales, the name Tewis was used to denote an administrative unit and in the south of Wales, the name Tewis was often associated with a family stronghold.

In Welsh society, many families used family surnames which denoted their profession, geographical location, or a specific characteristic of the family. The surname Tewis could likely refer to the strength of the family and their residence in a fortified structure, possibly a castle or tower. This surname likely indicated a family or person’s status in Welsh society as it was common for a family to possess a fortress or house which could withstand an attack or invasion.

The surname Tewis was also associated with occupations such as carpenters and stonemasons. In this regard, the word “tewis” likely referred to the work of these craftsmen, specifically referring to the strength of their creations.

Today, the surname Tewis is still present in many parts of Wales and is still most commonly associated with the meaning of strength.

Tewis: Where does the name Tewis come from?

The surname Tewis is most commonly found in the United States and United Kingdom. This surname is of English origin, stemming from the Old English personal names Teo or Tiw, both of which mean "god" or "divine".

In the United States, the surname Tewis is most prominent in the Southwestern region of the United States, concentrated around Nevada, Arizona, and California in particular. As for the United Kingdom, Tewis is found in the Midlands and South of England.

In the 2000 US Census, the surname Tewis occurred as the 16,459th most common surname. This surname was especially popular in Arizona, with over 1,400 Tewis' listed in the census. Other states with high occurrences of the surname Tewis include California, Nevada, New York, and Oklahoma.

In England, records show that the oldest bearers of the name Tewis were from Devon and Dorset in 1450.

The Tewis surname is quickly declining in number in both the United States and United Kingdom, with the 2000 US Census showing only a slight increase from the 1990 US Census reported numbers. This suggests that few members of the Tewis family are continuing the name. As such, the family name appears to be on the brink of extinction, considering that it was never that popular to begin with.

Variations of the surname Tewis

The surname Tewis is thought to have originated in the Welsh language and is derived from the Welsh word "twis," which means son of Thomas. Variants of the surname include Tewiss, Tewyss, Tews, Tewes, Teweys, and Tewys.

The spelling of the surname Tewis has evolved over time. Initially, it was spelled "Tews" and "Tewes," which were phonetic spellings of the Middle English and Old Welsh versions of the surname. The spelling of the surname was influenced by the local dialect of the area where the surname's holder was living, and in some cases, the spelling of the surname was changed depending on the surname holder's occupation or the pronunciation of their name. By the 15th Century, the spelling of Tewis was firmly established.

The surname Tewis is also found in other forms, including Tewyre, Tewyres, Tewyer, Teuyr, and Teuyrs. All of these are likely derivations of Tewis, though the exact origin of those variant spellings is not certain.

In some cases, the surname Tewis is spelled with the “W” instead of “T,” and this variation occurs as both Tewis and Wewis. The “W” switch may have arisen as a result of an English spelling system based on spelling and pronunciation.

The Tewis surname has many related surnames, including — Dawes, Tawney, Thosse, Thossey, Thwaites, and Thwaite. All of these surnames are likely derived from the Tewis name and may be variations on the pronunciation of it.

These related surnames can have different spellings, as well. For instance, some versions of Thwsse include the spelling Twisse, Tysse, and Thysse. All of these are likely derived from the original Tewis surname.

In conclusion, the same origin of the surname Tewis can be seen in its different variants, spellings and surnames. Most of these related surnames are likely derived from the Welsh "twys" and have evolved through the centuries to take on different spellings that reflect the local dialects and pronunciations of the surname holders.

Famous people with the name Tewis

• Bradley Tewis: professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.
• Kendrick Tewis: rapper known for songs like “Just Us” and “Let it Flow.”
• Terri Tewis: former dance instructor and owner of The Dance Connection.
• Jay Tewis: former Olympic volleyball player on the United States National Team.
• Caellin Tewis: Australian actress with roles in shows like Coronation Street and Home and Away.
• Ronald Tewis: retired Major League Baseball player for the New York Mets and California Angels.
• Warren Tewis: professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Brock Tewis: current National Hockey League (NHL) player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Jan Tewis: professional golfer and winner of the 2017 LPGA Championship.
• Estelle Tewis: renowned pilot and three-time holder of the women’s altitude record.

Other surnames

Tewissen