NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowditch

A surname derived from a location or topographical feature.

In the 1881 census there were 733 people recorded with the Bowditch surname, ranking it #4,990 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,063, ranked #5,492, down from #4,990 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Upway and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, East Devon and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowditch is 1,177 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.0%.

1881 census count

733

Ranked #4,990

Modern count

1,063

2016, ranked #5,492

Peak year

1999

1,177 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowditch had 733 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,990 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,063 in 2016, ranked #5,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 992 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowditch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowditch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowditch 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 451 #5,469
1861 historical 560 #4,704
1881 historical 733 #4,990
1891 historical 845 #4,831
1901 historical 846 #5,379
1911 historical 992 #4,569
1997 modern 1,056 #5,253
1998 modern 1,147 #5,071
1999 modern 1,177 #5,012
2000 modern 1,126 #5,171
2001 modern 1,112 #5,121
2002 modern 1,150 #5,091
2003 modern 1,111 #5,132
2004 modern 1,098 #5,192
2005 modern 1,061 #5,290
2006 modern 1,054 #5,317
2007 modern 1,057 #5,354
2008 modern 1,049 #5,436
2009 modern 1,080 #5,405
2010 modern 1,107 #5,404
2011 modern 1,099 #5,376
2012 modern 1,055 #5,471
2013 modern 1,081 #5,457
2014 modern 1,085 #5,471
2015 modern 1,074 #5,456
2016 modern 1,063 #5,492

Geography

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Where Bowditchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Upway, Chard, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, East Devon, South Somerset and Sedgemoor. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Upway Dorset
3 Chard Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 East Devon 005 East Devon
3 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
4 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
5 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowditch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowditch

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowditch, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bowditch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bowditch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bowditch is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Bowditch is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowditch falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowditch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bowditch

The surname Bowditch is of English origin and is thought to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place in Devon, England, known as "Bogedich" or "Bawdyche," which means "the ditch or stream of the bogie or goblin" in Old English.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Devonshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Baudeche." This document, compiled during the reign of King Edward I, contains records of land holdings and taxation throughout the county.

In the 14th century, the name was also found in various spellings, such as "Bowdytch" and "Bawdich," in the Subsidy Rolls of Devonshire and the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset.

The first recorded person with the surname Bowditch was John Bowditch, who was born around 1430 in Tiverton, Devon. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure with this surname was Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838), an American mathematician, navigator, and astronomer. He is best known for his work on "The New American Practical Navigator," a widely used navigational manual that revolutionized maritime navigation.

In the 16th century, the Bowditch family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. One notable member from this period was William Bowditch (1540-1612), a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Bristol.

During the 17th century, several Bowditches emigrated to the American colonies, including William Bowditch (1612-1679), who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1638. His descendants went on to become prominent members of the community, with some serving in various political and military roles.

Another notable figure was Ebenezer Bowditch (1697-1774), a wealthy merchant from Salem, Massachusetts, who was active in the American Revolutionary War. He provided significant financial support to the patriot cause and served as a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

In the 19th century, the Bowditch family continued to contribute to various fields, including science, academia, and the military. One notable example is Henry Ingersoll Bowditch (1808-1892), a renowned physician and physiologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of the circulatory system.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowditch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowditch 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. Dorset leads with 251 Bowditchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.55x.

County Total Index
Dorset 251 52.55x
Somerset 122 10.42x
Surrey 77 2.17x
Middlesex 66 0.91x
Devon 39 2.57x
Kent 34 1.37x
Glamorgan 28 2.21x
Hampshire 22 1.47x
Lancashire 17 0.20x
Monmouthshire 15 2.85x
Channel Islands 13 6.03x
Gloucestershire 12 0.84x
Yorkshire 12 0.17x
Essex 8 0.56x
Cornwall 6 0.73x
Sussex 6 0.49x
Wiltshire 6 0.93x
Brecknockshire 2 1.37x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.20x
Shropshire 2 0.32x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Hertfordshire 1 0.20x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 26 Bowditchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 26 4.10x
Broadwinsor 24 766.77x
Beaminster 22 414.31x
Camberwell 22 4.73x
Chard 21 147.99x
Hawkchurch 21 1418.92x
Upway 21 1153.85x
St Marylebone London 17 4.38x
Thorncombe 17 618.18x
Mosterton 16 2000.00x
Broadway 14 736.84x
Cameley 14 1068.70x
Poplar London 14 10.19x
Crewkerne 13 104.50x
Christchurch 11 34.01x
Lee 10 27.74x
Aberdare 9 10.35x
Bedwellty 9 9.69x
Southwark Christchurch 9 26.39x
Spotland 9 9.38x
St Michaelinthe Vale 9 116.88x
Swansea Higher 9 68.18x
Wayford 9 1607.14x
Ystradyfodwg 9 8.10x
East Lydford 8 2000.00x
Huish Episcopi 8 479.04x
Melbury Osmond 8 824.74x
Tormoham 8 12.48x
West Ham 8 2.52x
Bermondsey 7 3.23x
Blackburn 7 3.05x
Dalwood 7 679.61x
Misterton 7 421.69x
Southampton St Mary 7 7.46x
Wraxall 7 2916.67x
Battersea 6 2.24x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.47x
Charmouth 6 384.62x
Corfe Castle 6 135.44x
Erith 6 24.53x
Haselbury Bryan 6 335.20x
Kensington London 6 1.48x
Kilmington 6 480.00x
Langport 6 1071.43x
Madron Penzance 6 20.03x
Osmington 6 631.58x
Pulham 6 895.52x
Stoke Abbott 6 437.96x
Winfrith Newburgh 6 251.05x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.61x
Ormesby 5 25.80x
Poole St James 5 27.86x
Risca 5 50.40x
Salisbury St Martin 5 74.63x
Stoke Newington London 5 8.82x
Wakefield 5 9.03x
West Monkton 5 193.80x
Winterborne Anderson 5 3125.00x
Wyke Regis 5 72.99x
Ashford 4 16.54x
Bloxworth 4 615.38x
Bromley London 4 2.50x
Castle Cary 4 78.43x
Ilchester 4 235.29x
Keynes Coombe 4 1250.00x
Seaton 4 68.49x
St Owen 4 70.67x
St Pancras London 4 0.68x
Stratton 4 540.54x
Chetnole 3 491.80x
Corscombe 3 184.05x
Durston 3 535.71x
Holdenhurst 3 7.67x
Netherbury 3 75.95x
Offwell 3 361.45x
Rotherhithe 3 3.34x
Stockland 3 136.99x
Taunton St Mary 3 13.95x
Weymouth 3 33.15x
Winsham 3 140.19x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
George 34
John 33
James 27
Thomas 25
Alfred 13
Samuel 12
Frederick 11
Henry 11
Walter 10
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Richard 7
Francis 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Benjamin 5
David 5
Fred 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Stephen 3
Abraham 2
Bennet 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm.Augusta 2
Amos 1
Bennett 1
Chas. 1
Emmanuel 1
Enoch 1
Farnham 1
Fk. 1
Fredr.Chas.Jas. 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicodemus 1
Owen 1

FAQ

Bowditch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowditch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 733 people were recorded with the Bowditch surname. That placed it at #4,990 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowditch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,063 in 2016. That gives Bowditch a modern rank of #5,492.

What does the Bowditch surname mean?

A surname derived from a location or topographical feature.

What does the Bowditch map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bowditch 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.