The earliest versions of the name Brewis found so far in Parish Records of both England and Scotland are:

·         BRUCE, (which later becomes Brewis), in Aberdeen about 1539 when the records begin

·         BRUIS at the same time in Dunfermline, Fife and this name was spelled variously as (Broose, Bruis, Bruiss, Brwis, Bruice, Bruise) often for members of the same household

·         BREWHOUS(E) and BRUSE in both Perth, Scotland in 1538 and Holme Cultram, Cumberland in 1529 

·         BREWIS in 1571 in Berwick on Tweed, and by 1574 there was a child William BREWIS born in Morpeth, Northumberland

·         BREWHOUSE in 1593 in Morpeth Northumberland where Thomas BREWHOUSE married Marguerita Coule of that parish

·         BREWAS in 1584 when Thomas Brewas appears in Newcastle upon Tyne

An alternative early version of the name is BRAOSE that is reported to have its beginnings in France in the 11^th Century (as De Braose). It has been suggested that William De Braose was granted land in both the south of England, and Yorkshire about 1066 as a reward for his efforts at the Battle of Hastings.  It is believed that this name has been changed over centuries and transformed into BREWES found in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge, and the Bruce of Scotland.

Samuel Brewis (b 1801, NBL),  who was a cotton merchant in Lancashire, was granted a Coat of Arms by the College of Heralds, the design of which was based on a supposed descent from Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, whose name is sometimes spelled Brus. Robert himself was of Norman descent.

It is concluded therefore that Brewis started as a location name from Braose in France, was corrupted by regional dialect into the Scottish 'Bruce' which in turn became the North of England 'Broo-us' and hence Brewis.  Looking at the variety of spelling in the parish registers it would seem that early spelling variations coincided with changes in priests or clerks.

Each variety of spelling can almost be related to particular interpretations by individual parish clerks.

An alternative origin could be a location name derived from Brew house (brewery).  I do not think this is likely because brew houses are common throughout the UK and elsewhere Brewer or Brewster are the more usual forms for people whose names are associated with or derive from brewing and breweries.  So I believe that Brewhouse is just a spelling variant of "Broo-us".

Having said that there are a family of BREWIS who were Brewers in Morpeth, where the Northumberland clan began, at the time of the 1841 census so anything is possible.  Further research is needed.