The Drews surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 3,695 people carried this name — #8,862 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 80,000 people counted. That is down 1% from 3,730 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Drews surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Drew’.

An early record he cites: Johannes Drewe, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Drew, Drewe, Drews, Druce and Drewes.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 253 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

315 people named Drews have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 470 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 10 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Greater Poland.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Greater Poland 113
Pomeranian 64
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 50
West Pomeranian 23
Masovian 22
Warmian-Masurian 21
Silesian 13
Lubusz 4

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

78 people named Drews live in Switzerland.

They live in 8 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 35
Basel-Stadt 10
Aargau 8
St. Gallen 8
Thurgau 7
Lucerne 4
Solothurn 3
Schwyz 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 73 people named Drews live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Misiones 43
Buenos Aires Province 17
Corrientes 13

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 28 people named Drews.

12 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Haut-Rhin.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 12
Haut-Rhin 5
Vaucluse 5
Bas-Rhin 4
Gironde 1
Saône-et-Loire 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

68 people named Drews is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 68

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Drews in American newspapers,
1867–1879.

Newspaper page from Juniata Sentinel And Republican carrying the name Drews
Juniata Sentinel And Republican 1879-11-19
Newspaper page from Orleans Independent Standard carrying the name Drews
Orleans Independent Standard 1867-03-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Drews in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

5,728 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Drews. The most, 1,095, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 2,188
New South Wales 1,069
Victoria 1,000
South Australia 661
Tasmania 373
Western Australia 367
ACT (Canberra) 49
Northern Territory 9

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Drews.

Who carried it

People named Drews,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Arthur Drews
    Arthur Drews 1865–1935 · writer
  • Bill Drews
    Bill Drews 1870–1938 · judge
  • Fritz Drews d. 1918 · soldier
  • Jan Drews 1646–1710 · writer
  • Heinrich Richard Drews Krepps 1844–1916 · musician
  • Heinrich Richard Drews Krepps 1844–1916 · musician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Drews,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,169 records

1,169 records of the Drews name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 732
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 133
  • Other U.S. records 304
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Harold F. Drews

    Born 1929; from Kane County, Illinois. U.S. Army, light weapons infantry leader; declared dead 1950 in North Korea. Buried at Little Woods Cemetery, Saint Charles, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Eugene W. Drews

    Born 1918 in Maine. Enlisted 1941 at Danville, Illinois; painter from Vermilion County, Illinois. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Danville National Cemetery, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Pauline Drews

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Martha from Gothenburg and Stettin, aged 21; servant. From Philadelphia, Pomerania, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,169 records for Drews in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany1,334 records

1,334 records of the Drews name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,331
  • German emigration and citizenship files 2
  • German estate files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hugo Drews

    Born 1893; from Parpart. Reported taken prisoner in the Prussian casualty list of 2 December 1918 (Infantry Regiment No. 159).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Karl Ludwig Drews

    Emigrated to North America in 1868.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Claus Drews

    Estate settled at Eckhorst in 1890; hereditary tenant.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,334 records for Drews in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands130 records

130 records of the Drews name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 76
  • Dutch population registers 36
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 18
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Friederica Maria Carolina Drews

    Married in 1917 in Emmen; labourer. Died 1928 in Emmen, aged 79.

    Open Archives, Drents Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Marten Cornelis Drews

    Died 1837 in Wildervank, aged 25; "weversknecht".

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Johanna Theresia Drews

    In the population register of Zutphen; born 1887.

    Open Archives, Regionaal archief Zutphen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 130 records for Drews in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia105 records

105 records of the Drews name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 79
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 16
  • Other Australian records 10
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Albertina Drews

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Midlothian, aged 22; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Gunter Horst Kurt Drews

    Fitter and turner of Bell Post Hill, Victoria; died 1989.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Drews

    Of Henty, New South Wales; died 1919.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 105 records for Drews in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France13 records

13 records of the Drews name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Albertine Drews

    Born 1910 in Colmar (Haut-Rhin); died 1981 in Sainte-Marie-aux-Chênes (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andre Paul Drews

    Born 1946 in Colmar; died 1972 in Colmar (Haut-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Erwin Drews

    Born 1923 in Poland; died 1990 in Pabu (Côtes-d'Armor).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Drews in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway4 records

4 records of the Drews name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Johan Fr. Drews

    Census of 1910: Arendals Kreds, Arendal; seaman, born 1835 in Funkenhagen Tyskland.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Johan Ferdnant Drews

    Census of 1910: Arendals Kreds 137aa, Arendal; ship's master, born 1861 in Arendal.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Johanna Drews

    Census of 1910: Arendals Kreds, Arendal; born 1835 in Sweden.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Drews in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Canada2 records

2 records of the Drews name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 1
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Anna Martha Drews

    Buried in 1968 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 79.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Erna Drews

    Died 2001; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Drews.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Drews is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Drews volume
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