Surname Mewburn - Meaning and Origin
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Mewburn: What does the surname Mewburn mean?
The surname Mewburn is of English origin, deriving from a geographic locale. It is believed to come from a now lost place believed to have been situated in Northumberland where the surname was first found. The name is made up of two elements: 'Mew', which could possibly refer to a seagull, or derive from an Old English personal name, and 'burn', a term in northern England and Scotland for a stream or small river. This might suggest that the original bearers of the name inhabited or originated from a place near a stream that was frequented by gulls or a similar bird species. As with other surnames, over time the name has scattered widely and is now found in various parts of the world. Since geographic surnames were often given to the original owner of the land, it is also possible that the progenitor of this familial name owned land in said location. As such, surnames like Mewburn are a symbol of ancestral ties, family lineage and historical identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMewburn: Where does the name Mewburn come from?
The last name Mewburn is relatively uncommon today and is mainly found in the United Kingdom, especially Scotland. It is believed to have originated from Northern England and may have descended from an Old Norse personal name today known as Mowbray. Amongst some of the earliest documented bearers of the name may be found in the Calihistoria Ragman Rolls of 1296, which records one Gilbert de Moubray.
In Scotland the highest concentration of the surname is in Aberdeen City, but there are also documented occurrences of the name in Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Dundee City, the West Lothian, Falkirk, and even as far south as Midlothian.
In England the highest concentration of the name is found in the North East and there are documented occurrences of the name in Durham, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, and even in Hertfordshire.
The name is also found in America and Australia with some descendants of those who settled in America and Australia being found in Minnesota, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Queensland.
In total, the last name Mewburn is thought to be held by over 600 people throughout those countries mainly descended from the early settlers of Northern England.
Variations of the surname Mewburn
The Mewburn surname has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants can be found scattered throughout the world, but are more common in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
One variant spelling of the Mewburn surname is Muburn. This variant can be found in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Another variant spelling is Mewbourne. This variant is more commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The Mewburn surname can also be seen spelled as Mewbron, Meburne, Meuburn, Mewborn, and Meaburn. These variants are most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Variant surnames of Mewburn include Maburn, Meaborn, Meabourn, Meabaums, Meabroom, and Mebarne. These surnames are found predominantly in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, and Australia.
The Mewburn surname is also associated with the following septs: MacMahon of Northern Ireland and Scotland; MacKenney of Scotland; MacMinn of Scotland; MacNobbie, MacNob go Dhu, and MacNuib of Scotland; McNobbe of Ulster; McNuib of the Isles; Mabon of England; Moyburn, Mouborne, and Moubourn of Ireland. Different spellings of these surnames are also known to exist.
Overall, the Mewburn surname can be seen in many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Through research, more variants and other related surnames may be discovered.
Famous people with the name Mewburn
- Sir James Leslie Mewburn (1839-1915) was a respected civil servant and military figure in the United Kingdom. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath, and was the first Deputy Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue.
- Florence Mewburn (1889-1975) was a British educational psychologist who studied childhood development and authored numerous reports and publications on the subject.
- Sidney Lancelot Mewburn (1867-1947) was a British painter and illustrator from Birmingham. He was well known in the Edwardian era for his paintings of rural England and for his visits to the West Country to admire the beauty of the landscape.
- Arthur Thomas Mewburn (1860-1931) was a British merchant navy captain who was later in the Royal Air Force. He was highly decorated, with several awards including the Royal Humane Society Gold Medal for Gallantry.
- Jerry Mewburn (1844-1913) was an American Confederate soldier who served in the Civil War. After the war, Mewburn was an educator and superintendent in Sumter, South Carolina.
- Clare Cecil Mewburn (1897-2002), also known as Sister Violet, was a British nurse and nun who served in India throughout the 1950s. She was known for her work helping the poor and destitute in India, and was honored in 1959 for her courage and service.
- Joe Fran Mewburn (1902-1966) was an Australian sheep shearer and trade unionist who rose from humble beginnings to become a major force in the labor movement. He served as General President of the Australian Workers' Union from 1936-1966.