GLEW
Glew is a surname of English origin, which first appears in the early medieval period of the British Isles.
The derivation of the name is credited to the Old English word gleaw, meaning “wise” or “clever”. In the same era surnames were frequently formed from nicknames, and it is likely that an individual who was regarded as particularly astute or prudent was given the sobriquet Glew. Such individuals might have been village elders, local authorities or even early lawyers.
The earliest surviving reference to the surname is that of William Gleu recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1168, during the reign of King Henry I (1154-1189). Subsequent medieval documents contain additional attestations: Radulfus filius Gleu in Yorkshire in 1219; Agnes Glewe in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273; and Peter Glew in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301.
In the 14th century the surname occurs in several forms, including Glewe, Glwe and Glugh, as seen in the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire in 1379. These variations are still recognisable as belonging to the same line and demonstrate the orthographic fluidity of the period.
By the 17th century the name had travelled beyond England. In 1679 a Thomas Glew is recorded as a soldier in the island militia of Barbados, under the command of Major Thomas Helmes. This entry indicates that bearers of the surname had migrated to the West Indies by this time.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname Glew was widely documented across England, particularly in East Anglia and Yorkshire. The endurance of the name through these records, together with its clear linguistic origin, attest to its antiquity and the historical significance of its bearers.
Typical given names associated with the Glew surname
Male
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Alison
- Elizabeth
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Pamela
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Sheila
- Susan
- Tracey
- Zoe
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Glew in...
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There are approximately 1,303 people named Glew in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,005th most common surname in Britain. Around 20 in a million people in Britain are named Glew.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Glew
- Phil Glew - Racing driver.
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.