Surname Mews - Meaning and Origin
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Mews: What does the surname Mews mean?
The last name Mews is an English toponymic surname, derived from the Middle English mewe, which is from the Old English mūs, meaning "mouse". This surname was most likely adopted as an epithet for someone who lived near a mews, which is an urban area of common land set aside in medieval Britain for the keeping of small captive birds like falcons which were commonly kept as part of the sport of falconry.
Mews is a rare surname, primarily found in Cornwall, Devon, Essex and Wiltshire in the United Kingdom. This could have been because it was given to individuals living near certain large medieval estates with mews attached to them. Despite its rarity, this surname was not merely a reference to a breed of bird, but also to a lively area. Mews were initially used for training and accommodating hunting birds such as falcons, hence the common mentioning of "Falconry Mews" when the surname is found.
In modern times, the surname can be found not only in England, but in other parts of the world as well. It might be suggested that Mews is a reference to the hidden kind of recreation that these were involved in, but due to its rarity, it is difficult to pinpoint a certain definition for this surname. It is, however, generally accepted to mean "mouse", due to its linguistic roots, and when it is found in the UK, it is usually associated with areas of common ground following the rules of medieval Britain.
Order DNA origin analysisMews: Where does the name Mews come from?
Today, the last name Mews is most frequently found in the United Kingdom. The surname is primarily located in the southern regions England, such as in Devon, Hampshire, and Leicestershire. However, it is also found in smaller numbers in other locations such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The surname Mews is of English origin and derived from the Old French mue or mueux, meaning "byre for cows", a type of agricultural building used to shelter cows. Surnames associated with the old English occupation of keeping cows in barns became popular in the Middle Ages. The Mews family name first appeared in records dating back to the 1400s, when the Mews surname was first found in Devon, England.
At the time of the British Census of 1881, the most prevalent variations of the Mews surname in England were Mews, Mew, Mue, and New, although the unusual variant Mussel Slow was also recorded. The most prevalent Mews families in England during that time were located in Devon, Hampshire, and Surrey.
The Mews surname was also found in other parts of the British Empire. For example, in 1841, a number of Mews families appeared in Australia in Tasmania. During the same time period, one Mews family appears on records in Canada in New Brunswick.
Today, the Mews surname is rarely found outside of the United Kingdom and is primarily still located in the southern regions of England, although other regional variants of the surname, such as Mue and Mew, may exist.
Variations of the surname Mews
The surname Mews is of English origin and it comes from the Olde English pre 7th century word “muce”, meaning a mouse or a rat.
Variants: Fox, the Olde English pre 7th century word "fuhs", meaning fox, which was an occupational name for someone who tended to and hunted foxes.
Spellings: Mouce, Mows, Mowse
Surnames: Mouse, Mouser, Mushett, Mushet.
Mouse is the most common variant of the Mews surname, and this variant first appeared in the 1300s. It is a locational name originating from places such as Mows in Oxfordshire, Mowes in Gloucestershire, or Mukys in Devonshire. Mouce and Mows are interchangeable spellings of the Mouse surname, and they first appeared in the 1500s.
The variant Mouser can be found in regional dialects of the North Country, as this surname likely originated in Northern England. It is an occupational name for a hunter of mice, and it was first recorded in the 12th century.
The surname Mushett can be found in both Northern and Southern England in the early 20th century, and it is thought to be a variant of Mushet, which can be found in Scotland. This could be a references to the Olde Scots and Northern English word "mushat" which means "mouse-catcher".
The Mews surname is incredibly complex and has a variety of variant spellings and surnames which all have the same English origin. It is likely that these variants are all related, as the surname originated from the Olde English pre 7th century word “muce”, meaning a mouse or a rat.
Famous people with the name Mews
- Stephen Mews: English painter, illustrator, and sculptor.
- Roelf Mews: Canadian curler and FIFA World Cup referee.
- Michael Mews: Australian rugby union footballer.
- Alan Mews: former English cricketer.
- Gillian Mews: former Australian women's field hockey player.
- Mark Mews: Australian Paralympic alpine skier.
- Simon Mews: Australian cleric, author, and religious teacher.
- Clarence Mews: Australian flying ace in World War I.
- William Mews: Canadian curler and 2014 Winter Paralympic gold medalist.
- Jędrzej Mews: Polish classical composer, arranger, and conductor.
- David Mews: Canadian politician.
- Jason Mews: American film, television, and theater actor.
- Katja Mews: German composer and music producer.
- Jonathan Mews: English jazz and classical double bassist, composer, and arranger.
- Jack Mews: Australian race car driver.
- Lulu Mews: Canadian rock and roll guitarist and occasional singer.