Show ContentsEwbank History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

This "surname is derived from a geographical locality, 'of the yew-bank,' from residence on the bank where the yew-trees grew." [1] Specifically, the family claim descent from "Yewbank, a location name in Cumberland." [2] [3]

Early Origins of the Ewbank family

The surname Ewbank was first found in Cumberland where Waldef de Yuebanc was recorded c. 1258. In nearby Yorkshire, William Hughbank was listed as a Freeman of York in 1464, Robert Hewbank was recorded in 1475 and Oswald Ewbanke was listed as a Freeman of York in 1592. [3]

Early History of the Ewbank family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ewbank research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1792, 1799, 1812, 1813, 1819, 1836, 1845, 1847, 1849, 1856 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Ewbank History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ewbank Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ewbank, Ewbanke, Ewbanks, Eubank, Ewbanck and others.

Early Notables of the Ewbank family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • John Ewbank (1799?-1847), English painter, born at Gateshead, Durham, in or about 1799 and was adopted when a child by a wealthy uncle who lived at Wycliffe, on the banks of the Tees, Yorkshire. Being...
  • Thomas Ewbank (1792-1870), writer on practical mechanics, was born at Barnard Castle, Durham, on 11 March 1792. When thirteen years of age he began work as a plumber and brassfounder. In 1812 he went...


United States Ewbank migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ewbank Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mary Ewbank with her husband and child who arrived in New York in 1820
  • Thomas Ewbank, who arrived in New York in 1826 [4]

New Zealand Ewbank migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ewbank Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edwin Ewbank, aged 36, a cartwright, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Gainsborough" in 1878 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Ewbank (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Ewbank (1792-1870), English-born, American writer on practical mechanics, United States Commissioner of Patents (1849-1852)
  • Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank (1907-1998), American professional NFL football coach
  • John W. Ewbank (1799-1847), English painter from Gateshead, Durham, one of the founding members of the Royal Scottish Academy
  • Christopher Cooper Ewbank (1845-1933), English cricketer and vicar of Langford, Bedfordshire for 63 years
  • Professor Inga-Stina Ewbank SBS (1932-2004), Swedish-born academic and educator in Great Britain, Munich, Hong Kong and the United States
  • Robert Benson Ewbank KT, CSI, CIE, MA (1883-1967), British colonial civil servant, Chairman of the Lake District Committee of the National Trust (1948 to 1962), High Sheriff of Westmorland (1957-1958)
  • Walter Frederick Ewbank (b. 1918), Anglican priest and author, Archdeacon of Westmorland and Furness (1971–1977) and Archdeacon of Carlisle (1978–1984)
  • John Ewbank (b. 1968), British-born Dutch composer, lyricist and record producer
  • John Ewbank (b. 1948), Yorkshire-born, Australian rockclimber who established Australia's first rockclimbing magazine, Thrutch and developed the Ewbank System approach to grading used throughout Australia, New Zealand and South Africa


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 3rd November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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