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Etymology of News

What does the name News mean?

The origins of the News name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived near a yew tree. News is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. In this case, the surname News comes from the Old English phrase, atten ew, which means, at the yew tree. The surname News may also derive from the Old English word newe, which means new. This may have been a name given to newcomers to an area, and as such, it would have been a nickname surname. 1

Alternatively, the name could have been for someone who lived near a yew tree, from the Old English word eow. 2

Early Origins of the News family

The surname News was first found in Cambridgeshire where Richard le Newe was first listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls also lists Robert le Newe in Wiltshire; and Simon le Neue in Bedfordshire. 3

The Feet of Fines of Warwickshire lists William le Neuwe there in 1221 and the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire lists Walter le New in 1234. John atte Newe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. 2

Kirby's Quest lists Richard le Nywe in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 4

Newe House, a manor house in the village of Pakenham, Suffolk remains today as it was built in 1622 by Sir Robert Bright. Castle Newe was a mansion house, situated in Aberdeenshire, built in 1831 by Archibald Simpson.

Early History of the News family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our News research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1234, 1273 and 1886 are included under the topic Early News History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

News Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name News were recorded, including Newe, New, News, Newes, Nuce and others.

Early Notables of the News family

More information is included under the topic Early News Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the News family to Ireland

Some of the News family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


News migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the News family emigrate to North America:

News Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas News, who arrived in Maryland in 1676 5
News Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Margaret News, who landed in Virginia in 1702 5

Contemporary Notables of the name News (post 1700) +

  • P. N. News (b. 1966), ring name of Paul Neu, an American professional wrestler, best known for his stints in World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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