Explore the Family Name Bellew
The meaning of Bellew
1. English, Irish, and Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from a lost or unidentified estate in or near Normandy named with Old French bel + eau ‘beautiful water’, as is clear from the Anglo-Norman French and Middle English surname spelling de Belewe and its Latin rendering as de Bella Aqua. The source of the surname is often stated to be Bellou (Orne), but this is improbable, as its etymological form Be(r)lou requires a different etymology than bella aqua. Nor is the surname from Belleau in Lincolnshire; this is post-medieval re-formation of the medieval placename Helgelo (Old Norse ‘Helgi’s glade or meadow’). 2. Variant or Americanized form of Ballou, a surname of probable French origin. Compare Ballew 1, Balliew, Belew 1, Belue, and Billue. History: In Ireland this upper gentry surname (see 1 above) has been established since the 13th century in Duleek (Meath), where its estate has been known as Bellewstown since the 16th century.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bellew in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bellew increased slightly between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Bellew was ranked as the 11,642nd most popular surname in the United States, with a count of 2,471 people carrying the name. By 2010, the rank had risen to 11,488th, with a total count of 2,739 people, representing a growth rate of 10.85%. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people also saw a minor increase of 1.09% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,642 | #11,488 | 1.32% |
| Count | 2,471 | 2,739 | 10.85% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.92 | 0.93 | 1.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bellew
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals shifts among those bearing the Bellew surname between 2000 and 2010. The majority identified as White, although this percentage decreased by 2.92% across the decade. The largest increases were observed among those identifying as Hispanic and Black, with respective growth rates of 78.65% and 386.11%. Identification as Asian/Pacific Islander also rose by 59.38%, while those identifying as Two or more races saw a decline of 15.07%. Lastly, an increase of 15.63% was seen among those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.75% | 92.95% | -2.92% |
| Hispanic | 1.78% | 3.18% | 78.65% |
| Black | 0.36% | 1.75% | 386.11% |
| Two or More Races | 1.46% | 1.24% | -15.07% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.32% | 0.51% | 59.38% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.32% | 0.37% | 15.63% |