NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowdery

A derivative of the Old English name Baldhere, meaning bold warrior.

In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Bowdery surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, up from #19,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitcham, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Wealden and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowdery is 382 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 253.5%.

1881 census count

99

Ranked #19,877

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

2010

382 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowdery had 99 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Bowdery surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bowdery surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bowdery surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowdery over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 64 #21,914
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 99 #19,877
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 357 #11,998
1998 modern 372 #12,008
1999 modern 379 #11,922
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 366 #11,998
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 376 #11,798
2005 modern 380 #11,639
2006 modern 379 #11,688
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 382 #12,410
2011 modern 380 #12,326
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 359 #13,025
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Bowderys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitcham, London parishes, Lambeth and St George the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Wealden, Bromley, Camden and Croydon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Mitcham Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 015 Isle of Wight
2 Wealden 017 Wealden
3 Bromley 002 Bromley
4 Camden 002 Camden
5 Croydon 016 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowdery

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bowdery surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowdery

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowdery, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Bowdery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Bowdery household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bowdery is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bowdery is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowdery falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowdery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bowdery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bowdery

The surname BOWDERY has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "boga" and "deru," which collectively translate to "dweller by the curve or bend." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers resided near a bend in a river or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BOWDERY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1198, where a man named Radulfus Boghedere is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name likely evolved from "Boghedere" to its modern form over the centuries.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Bogheddre mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. This entry demonstrates the name's continued presence in various regions of England during that period.

The BOWDERY surname is also linked to the place name "Bowderydene," which was a township located in the parish of Coniscliffe, County Durham. This connection suggests that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their association with this specific location.

Notable individuals bearing the BOWDERY surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John BOWDERY (1542-1616), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for West Looe in 1597. 2. Thomas BOWDERY (1612-1677), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Coniscliffe, County Durham. 3. Elizabeth BOWDERY (1678-1758), a prominent philanthropist in Bristol, England, who founded the BOWDERY Almshouses for the poor. 4. William BOWDERY (1719-1792), a British naval captain who served during the American Revolutionary War and is known for his involvement in the Battle of Yorktown. 5. Margaret BOWDERY (1832-1901), a British novelist and short story writer, known for her works depicting life in rural England.

While the BOWDERY surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the early inhabitants of England who settled near bends or curves in the landscape, leaving a lasting legacy in this distinctive and historically significant surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowdery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowdery surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 69 Bowderys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.67x.

County Total Index
Surrey 69 14.67x
Middlesex 13 1.35x
Buckinghamshire 10 17.13x
Kent 3 0.91x
Berkshire 2 2.76x
Hertfordshire 1 1.50x
Oxfordshire 1 1.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 25 Bowderys recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.67x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St George Martyr 25 128.67x
Lambeth 15 17.82x
Mitcham 12 404.04x
Newington 11 30.84x
Penn 6 1666.67x
Chelsea London 5 17.19x
West Drayton 4 1212.12x
Erith 3 92.31x
Wandsworth 3 32.29x
Hughenden 2 333.33x
Sandhurst 2 142.86x
St Marylebone London 2 3.88x
Amersham 1 120.48x
Bow London 1 8.14x
Camberwell 1 1.62x
Kensington London 1 1.86x
Rickmansworth 1 54.64x
Streatham 1 13.97x
Thame 1 92.59x
Woking 1 35.21x
Wooburn 1 125.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bowdery surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Betsey 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Augusta 1
Avis 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Esther 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Mamer 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bowdery surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Bowdery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowdery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Bowdery surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowdery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Bowdery a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Bowdery surname mean?

A derivative of the Old English name Baldhere, meaning bold warrior.

What does the Bowdery map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bowdery bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.