Tew

Etymology

The surname Tew has at least two traditional explanations. In English records it is often treated as a locational surname, referring to someone from Great or Little Tew in Oxfordshire; early spellings of the place-name include forms such as Tiwe, Tewa, and Tewe. A separate Welsh explanation connects it with Welsh tew, meaning “fat” or “plump,” making it originally a nickname for a stout person.

History

Medieval records cited by 19th-century surname writers show Tew in England very early, especially in connection with Oxfordshire place-names. The surname also appears in Welsh-oriented explanations, so some bearers may have different origins depending on family line and region. Because both explanations are plausible and old authorities differ in emphasis, the surname is best treated as having mixed or uncertain origin rather than a single source.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

Old surname dictionaries often placed Tew next to local names like Tewkesbury because the elements can look similar, but the Oxfordshire place-name and the Welsh adjective are distinct etymologies.

Related surnames