Show ContentsHewet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hewet

What does the name Hewet mean?

Hewet is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Hewet 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 Hewet family

The surname Hewet 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 Hewet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hewet 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 Hewet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hewet Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Hewitt, Hewett, Hewatt, Hewet, Hewit, Hewat and others.

Early Notables of the Hewet family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • 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 cou...
  • Reverend Dr. John Hewett (Huett) (1614-1658), was chaplain to Charles I who was later executed for treason as a Royalist. Born in Eccles, Lancashire, son of a clothworker, he and fellow sympathiser, J...

Migration of the Hewet family to Ireland

Some of the Hewet 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.


Hewet migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hewet or a variant listed above:

Hewet Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gyles Hewet, who landed in Virginia in 1643 5
  • Robert Hewet, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1685 5
Hewet Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hannah Hewet, who arrived in Virginia in 1723 5
Hewet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Hewet, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 5

Hewet 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:

Hewet Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Hewet, aged 23, a miner, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dilharree" in 1875


The Hewet 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.


  1. 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)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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.
  5. 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)


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