This Shropshire surname is derived from the township of Newnes, in Ellesmere parish, Shropshire. Bearers will have assumed it from living there. A family who have lived in Newnes for generations say the name means "new ones," referring to new tenants installed on property there, formerly occupied by Welsh rebels. If true, this will likely have been in the 13th century; Newnes is not recorded before the early 14th century. The current Newnes farmhouse, recently converted into multiple homes, is known as 'The Newnes' and the area has been refereed to as 'ye Niewns.' This suggests Newnes is plural, giving credence to the above origin.

The most notable member of this family was George Newnes, who published a popular magazine in the 19th century and was created the 1st Baronet, of Wildcroft, Hollerday Hill and Hesketh House (now extinct.) His arms were per fesse or and azure a pale counter-changed, in chief a demi-otter couped between two boars' heads couped, and in base a boar's head couped between two demi-otters couped, all counter-changed. And the crest is a demi-otter sable, holding in its mouth a roll of paper argent, and resting the sinister paw on a boar's head couped. There was also a George Newans, who purported he was a prophet sent by God. Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London (d. 1453,) the subject of the Dick Whittington and His Cat folk tale, is sometimes reported to have been born here.

• 1560. William Newenes (Buckinghamshire): Westwood Park Deeds
• 1564. Rob. Newens (Middlesex): Letters Patent of Kingston-upon-Thames
• 1579. Thomas Newans, curate of Broughton Chapel, Shrewsbury: CCEdb
• 1579. George Newnes of Wolluerley, husbandman: Leaton Knoll Deeds
• 1587. Raphe Newenes, in armour a byll. Ric Newens. William Newens, in armour a byll. (Grinshill, Shropshire): Transactions of the Shropshire Arc. and Nat. His. Soc.
• 1650. Robert, s. of Thomas Newan, of Morton, baptised: Moreton Corbet Parish Registers
• 1672: Mr. Neawnes, of Nunneley: Shropshire Hearth Tax
• 1672. William Newnes, of Northwood: Shropshire Hearth Tax
• 1828. Thomas Newns, esq. of Duke st., Portland-place: Gentleman's Magazine