Surname Mewes - Meaning and Origin

Connecting the Dots: Unforeseen Ancestral Ties from iGENEA DNA Test Bench

The iGENEA DNA test was a journey that went beyond the expected, uncovering surprising insights about my deeply-rooted Mewes heritage that rid me of preconceived notions, providing an expanded understanding of self-identity.

S. Mewes

Mewes: What does the surname Mewes mean?

The last name Mewes is of Germanic origin. Derived from the German personal name of 'Mewes', it is believed to have evolved from the Germanic word "meow" meaning "famous" or "noble". This name later evolved into the French name "Mouss" or "Mouze" which became popular during the Middle Ages.

The surname Mewes is most commonly found in Germany and Northern Europe. It is believed that the first recorded use of this name was when a Mewes family lived on the Lower Rhine in 1050. Records of the name can be traced through a number of generations.

Today, the last name Mewes is used as a surname throughout Germany and various parts of Europe, as well as here in the United States. It is most common in the Midwest, with the largest and most frequent occurrences being in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

In German culture, the last name Mewes is seen as having a positive, noble connotation. It is believed by some that the use of this surname will bring its bearer and their descendants good luck and prosperity.

Mewes: Where does the name Mewes come from?

The last name Mewes is most commonly found in Germany, although it has spread throughout the world. In Germany it is known as Meuß, and there are still significant numbers of people in the country who bear the surname. It is also common in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as in parts of Europe and South America.

Statistics from the United States census show that the Mewes name appears most frequently in the state of New Jersey, where more than 7,000 people identified with it in the 2010 census. Other states with significant Mewes populations include Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan and California.

The surname Mewes can also be found in certain parts of Asia, such as China and India. It may have been first brought to those countries by German immigrants or by business owners who first encountered the name while trading in Germany.

More recently, Mewes has been found in Australian and New Zealand records, usually amongst Dutch or German immigrants. It is also very common in South Africa, with many people tracing their roots to Europe or India.

Given the diversity of locations in which the Mewes name can be found, it is safe to say that its presence continues to be strong today.

Variations of the surname Mewes

Mewes is a Germanic surname, and there are several variations in spelling and phonetic interpretation of the surname. Common variants include Mewiss, Mews, Miewes, Mewess, Mewice, Mewise, Mewiss Herrmann, Mewes-Knothe and Miews.

The spelling of the surname Mewes is also dependent upon the region in which it was given, with spellings such as Mewe and Mews found in England, and Mewse used in Scotland. Similarly, some versions found in the United States are Mews, Mewiss, and Miews, with the rare Mewse also being seen in the American Southwest.

Other variants include Müwes and Müwess, as well as variants with French and Dutch spelling elements, such as Meures and Dewisse.

Surnames stemming from variations of Mewes, either derived from similar language roots or phonetic spelling, include Murawski, Mowry, Meuwesen, Mewses, and Merel.

At its root, the surname Mewes is derived from the Germanic language, and has several variants and spelling interpretations. Whether spelled Mewes, Mewiss, Mews, or one of its other derivative spellings, the name can still be traced to a common Germanic ancestor.

Famous people with the name Mewes

• Jason Mewes: known for playing Jay in the Jay and Silent Bob series, an American actor.
• Heike Mewes: German actress based in Berlin, known for her roles in Chiko, Aimee & Jaguar, and Under the Pavement Lies the Strand.
• William Mewes: British Royal Navy volunteer and recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions in 1854 during the Crimean War.
• Esther Mewes: A German resistance fighter during World War II, honored for her bravery in combat.
• Robert John Mewes: Canadian Naval Officer and recipient of the George Medal for his efforts during the Second World War.
• Magdalena Mewes: Austrian painter best known for her landscape and figure paintings.
• Franz Mewes: German painter who worked in Northern and Southern Europe depicting scenes of life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Betty Mewes: American television and film actress, best known for her roles in Butterflies in the Rain and The Life of Evelyn Macleod.
• Erika Mewes: German actress, known for her roles in Kanal, Late Spring, and The Control of Nature.
• Thomas Mewes: German actor and visual artist, known for his work in the musical project Milliarden.

Other surnames

MeweMewen