Explore the Family Name Blewett
The meaning of Blewett
English and Irish (of Norman origin): nickname from Anglo-Norman French bluet, bloet, a diminutive of bleu (Old French blo), which, when applied to people of aristocratic or knightly status probably meant ‘fair (-haired)’. The word is recorded in Anglo-Norman French and Middle English as a noun denoting ‘blue cloth’, so it might in some instances also have been used a nickname for someone who manufactured the cloth or who sold or wore garments made of it. Compare Blew, Blewitt, and Bluett. History: The Norman Ralph Bloet is mentioned in Domesday Book (1086) as lord of the manor of Hinton in Hampshire, recorded in 1246 as Henton Bluet (modern Hinton Blewett). From the late 12th century onward many Anglo-Norman knights acquired estates in Ireland. Ralph’s presumed descendants, Thomas and Ralph Bluet, held lands in counties Cork and Limerick before and after 1254, and are ancestors of the modern Irish families named Bluett, Blewett, and Blewitt. In 1850, following the Irish Potato Famine in Ireland (1845–9), Patrick Blewitt, a son of Edward Blewitt of Ballina, County Mayo, migrated to North America, his whole family joining him in 1851 to settle in Scranton, PA. Joe Biden (see Biden), the 46th president of the US, is Edward’s great-great-great grandson.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Blewett in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Blewett has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the Blewett name ranked 19,118 in terms of popularity and its count was 1,316. By 2010, the rank had improved to 18,950 with a count of 1,440, indicating a growth rate of 9.42%. However, when it comes to proportion per 100k, there was no change reported, remaining at 0.49.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,118 | #18,950 | 0.88% |
| Count | 1,316 | 1,440 | 9.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Blewett
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the Blewett surname, also based on the Decennial U.S. Census, there were shifts observed between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 90.5% identified as white, 6.31% as black, 1.44% as Hispanic, 0.46% as American Indian and Alaskan Native, 0.38% as Asian/Pacific Islander, and 0.91% claimed two or more races. By 2010, while the majority still identified as white (89.51%), there was a significant increase in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (1.11%) and Hispanic (2.01%). There was a minor increase among those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.49%), while a slight decrease was noted in those identifying as black (6.11%) and those claiming two or more races (0.76%).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.5% | 89.51% | -1.09% |
| Black | 6.31% | 6.11% | -3.17% |
| Hispanic | 1.44% | 2.01% | 39.58% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 1.11% | 192.11% |
| Two or More Races | 0.91% | 0.76% | -16.48% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.49% | 6.52% |