Hewitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Hewitt is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Hewitt family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Hewitt family lived in Huet or Huest near Evreux in Normandy, France. 1 Alternatively, the name was derived from 'the son of Hugh'; Middle English Hugh, How, and Hew, diminutive Hughet and Hewet. 2

Early Origins of the Hewitt family

The surname Hewitt was first found in Devon, where the first record of the family was Roger Huet, Huiet who was listed in the Pipe Rolls there in 1182, 1185. Later, the Assize Rolls listed William Huet in Shropshire in 1221 and Roger Hughet in Somerset in 1280. 3

William de Huet paid a fine in Lincolnshire in 1204 and Peter Hughet was listed in Sussex in 1278. "Sir Walter Hewet was a distinguished warrior in France temp. Edward III., and from him descended the Hewets, created baronets 1621 and 1660, and Viscounts Hewet 1689, also eminent lawyer James Hewett, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and 1st Viscount Lifford." 1

Kirby's Quest of Somerset listed Gilbert Huet there temp. 1 Edward III. 4 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Agnes Huet-wyf; Ricardus Huetson; and Willelmus Howetson. 2

Early History of the Hewitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hewitt research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1567, 1591, 1605, 1614, 1652, 1658, 1660, 1662, 1689, 1709, 1712, 1744, 1789 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hewitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hewitt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hewitt have been found, including Hewitt, Hewett, Hewatt, Hewet, Hewit, Hewat and others.

Early Notables of the Hewitt family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Reverend Thomas Huet (died 1591), a Welsh clergyman and translator of the Bible.Sir William Hewett (d. 1567), was Lord Mayor of London, son of Edmund Hewett, was born in Wales, a hamlet of Laughton-en-le-Morthen in South Yorkshire. His family had been settled in the adjoining county of Derby from early times. 5Reverend Dr. John Hewett...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hewitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hewitt World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hewitt is the 973^rd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Hewitt is ranked the 810^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,653 people with that name. 7 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hewitt is the 341^st popular surname with an estimated 136 people with that name. 8 Australia ranks Hewitt as 443^rd with 8,489 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Hewitt as 362^nd with 1,758 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Hewitt as 241^st with 24,671 people. 11

Migration of the Hewitt family to Ireland

Some of the Hewitt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 106 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hewitt migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hewitt were among those contributors:

Hewitt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Hewitt, who settled in Virginia in 1637
Rich Hewitt, who landed in Virginia in 1648 12
Kath Hewitt, who landed in Virginia in 1650 12
Alice Hewitt, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 12
Charles Hewitt, who landed in Maryland in 1673 12

Hewitt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Hewitt, who landed in Virginia in 1703 12
Richard Hewitt, who arrived in North Carolina in 1724 12

Hewitt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Hewitt, who landed in New York in 1802 12
James Hewitt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 12
John Hewitt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 12
Joseph Hewitt, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1812 12
Alexander Hewitt, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1816 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hewitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Alfred Hewitt, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish labourer from Roche, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th December 1905 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA 13
Mr. William Hewitt, (b. 1861), aged 44, Cornish farmer from Tintagle, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Detroit, Michigan, USA 13

Hewitt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hewitt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Ann Hewitt who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Tay" departing 22nd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but she died on board 14

Hewitt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hewitt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William James Hewitt, (Eden, John), English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. George Hewitt, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. Charles Hewitt, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Owen Hewitt, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
William Hewitt, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hewitt 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:

Hewitt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alfred Hewitt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Adelaide 19
Francis Hewitt, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840
W Hewitt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842
Mr. J. Hewitt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 7th August 1851 20
J Hewitt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hewitt migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22

Hewitt Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Robert Hewitt, who settled in Barbados with his wife, servants, and children in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Hewitt (post 1700) +

Jennifer Love Hewitt (b. 1979), American multiple-award winning actress, producer, and writer from Waco, Texas, best known for Party of Five, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Ghost Whisperer
Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt (1887-1972), American Navy commander, eponym of the USS Hewitt (DD-966)
Peter Cooper Hewitt (1861-1921), American electrical engineer and inventor of the first mercury-vapor lamp in 1901
Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903), American teacher, politician, lawyer, an iron manufacturer, chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1876 to 1877, mayor of New York
Brigadier-General Leland Ross Hewitt (1896-1967), American Director of Flying, Air Corps Primary Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas (1936-1940) 23
Edwin Hewitt (1920-1999), American mathematician
Donald S Hewitt (1922-2009), American television news producer and executive, best known for creating 60 Minutes, the CBS news magazine in 1968
Albert F. Hewitt, American Democratic Party politician, First Selectman of Groton, Connecticut, 1911-15, 1919-20; Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Groton, 1932 24
Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New York 10th District, 1875-79, 1881-87; Chairman of Democratic National Committee, 1876; Mayor of New York City, New York, 1887-88 24
Abraham S. Hewitt, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1876 24
... (Another 83 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hewitt family +

Hillsborough disaster

Nicholas Michael Hewitt (1973-1989), English schoolboy who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 25
Carl Darren Hewitt (1971-1989), English student cabinet maker who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 25

HMS Repulse

Mr. James Hewitt, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 26
Mr. Kenneth Hewitt, British P R, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 26
Mr. Walter G Hewitt, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 26

SS Atlantic

Mr. Henry F. Hewitt, American who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

St. Francis Dam

Mrs. Ines Kearns Cummings Hewitt, (nee Nichols), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

The Hewitt Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne te quaesiveris extra
Motto Translation: Seek nothing beyond your sphere.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 79)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 12) Leland Hewitt. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hewitt/Leland_Ross/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html