DREW
Drew is a surname of dual origin, with roots both in England and in the Greek‑derived forename Andrew. It first appears in the late 12th century in the Calendar of the Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds, where a record lists Ralph Dreu in a document dated 1188. The name entered English parlour through several linguistic pathways that reflect the complex history of the British Isles.
The most direct derivation is from the medieval given name Drewe or Drew, a short form of Andrew. The name Andrew itself is taken from the Greek Andreas, meaning “man” or “warrior.” Consequently, the surname Drew traditionally signifies a descendant of, or a person associated with, the forename Andrew.
Other possible origins are documented in historical records. The surname may derive from the Germanic personal name Drogo, itself stemming from the Old Saxon (gi)drog meaning ghost or phantom; the name was borne by a son of Charlemagne and became established in France before being introduced into Britain by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. It can also be a nickname derived from Old French dru, meaning favourite or lover, which in turn is related to the Old High German element drut meaning dear or beloved.
Additionally, Drew may be a habitational surname from places in France called Dreux, or from locations that bear the Old French element rieux, meaning streams. It is also likely to be an aphetic variation of Andrew, itself derived from the Greek Andreas and ultimately from aner, the genitive of andros, meaning man. A Gaelic connection is documented in the form of an Anglicised name from Mac AnDruaidh or O' Druidha, meaning “son of” or “male descendant of” the druid.
The earliest documented bearers in England are listed in medieval subsidy rolls. William Dryw appears in the 1275 Worcester subsidy roll, and John Drew is recorded in the 1327 Cambridgeshire subsidy roll. A further notable bearer from the early modern period is Edward Drew (1542‑1598), who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in 1584, for Exeter in 1586 and 1598, and for London in 1592, as recorded in the Dictionary of National Biography.
These documentary sources establish that the surname Drew has been in continuous use in England since at least the 12th century and that its bearers have occupied a range of social positions, from commoners documented in taxation rolls to members of the parliamentary gentry. The surname remains distinctly British, yet its etymological roots echo the broader Indo‑European linguistic traditions that shaped the naming practices of medieval Europe.
Typical given names associated with the Drew surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Barbara
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joanne
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
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There are approximately 14,412 people named Drew in the UK. That makes it the 617th most common surname in Britain. Around 221 in a million people in Britain are named Drew.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Drew
- Linzi Drew - Pornographic actress
- Amanda Drew - Actress
- David Drew - Politician
- Jane Drew - Writer, architect, academic (1911 to 1996)
- Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker - Phycologist (1901 to 1957)
- Martin Drew - Musician (1944 to 2010)
- Jordan Maguire-Drew - Professional football player
- Roger Drew - Illustrator and screenwriter
- David Drew - Ballet dancer (1938 to 2015)
- Norman Drew - Northern Irish professional golfer
- Frederick Drew - Geologist (1836 to 1891)
- Samuel J. Drew - American politician (1863 to 1926)
- Jamie Drew - Australian cyclist
- Samuel Henry Drew - Jeweller and watchmaker, naturalist (1844 to 1901)
- Catherine Drew - Irish journalist and writer (1832 to 1910)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.