UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley town".
In the 1881 census there were 300 people recorded with the Bowdon surname, ranking it #9,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #9,724 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Long Benton and St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowdon is 340 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.3%.
1881 census count
300
Ranked #9,724
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1861
340 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bowdon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bowdon surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 162 | #12,215 |
| 1861 | historical | 340 | #7,497 |
| 1881 | historical | 300 | #9,724 |
| 1891 | historical | 267 | #12,136 |
| 1901 | historical | 177 | #16,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 48 | #33,288 |
| 2001 | modern | 43 | #33,576 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 43 | #33,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Long Benton, St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone, Brancepeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| 3 | St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone | Devon |
| 4 | Brancepeth | Durham |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bowdon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowdon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bowdon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bowdon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bowdon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowdon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bowdon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bowdon is of English origin, derived from the place name Bowdon in Cheshire. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th century, possibly from the Old English words "bogedun" or "bogadun," which translate to "hill with a small valley or curved hill."
Bowdon is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Boudene," which was a part of the lands held by Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester. This early record indicates the name's long-standing presence in the area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bowdon is found in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire from 1260, which mention a Richard de Bowdon. This indicates that the surname had become established by the 13th century.
The name Bowdon is also associated with the village of Bowdon in Cheshire, which was recorded as "Boudene" in the Domesday Book. The village's name evolved over time, with variations such as "Boudon" and "Bowdon" appearing in historical records.
Notable individuals with the surname Bowdon include:
1. Thomas Bowdon (c. 1590-1638), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Cheshire in the early 17th century. 2. John Bowdon (c. 1613-1675), an English lawyer and writer who served as a member of the Council of State during the English Civil War. 3. William Bowdon (c. 1680-1737), an English clergyman and author who served as Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bowdon. 4. Mary Bowdon (1737-1810), an English writer and poet known for her work "The Poetical Trifles of a Young Lady." 5. George Bowdon (1808-1891), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Manchester.
The surname Bowdon has persisted through the centuries, maintaining its connection to its geographical roots in Cheshire. While the name's precise origins remain uncertain, its long history and association with the village of Bowdon provide a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowdon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 71 Bowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 71 | 2.04x |
| Durham | 43 | 4.94x |
| Devon | 41 | 6.73x |
| Cheshire | 38 | 5.88x |
| Middlesex | 38 | 1.30x |
| Surrey | 29 | 2.03x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 2.30x |
| Norfolk | 9 | 2.00x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 2.36x |
| Somerset | 5 | 1.06x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 0.59x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 0.50x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.35x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 17 Bowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.99x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bowdon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 25 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Ann | 8 |
| Margaret | 7 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Eliza | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Emma | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Anne | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Elizth. | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Patience | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Cisely | 1 |
| Dinah | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elenor | 1 |
| Ella | 1 |
| Emeline | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Geraldine | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Keturah | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Livinya | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marie | 1 |
| Marriana | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Tresa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bowdon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 22 |
| John | 19 |
| James | 15 |
| Thomas | 9 |
| George | 8 |
| Charles | 6 |
| Samuel | 6 |
| Joseph | 5 |
| Robert | 5 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| Henry | 4 |
| Richard | 4 |
| Frank | 3 |
| Frederick | 3 |
| Walter | 3 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Joshua | 2 |
| Levy | 2 |
| Lewis | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Beckett | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Felix | 1 |
| Fewant | 1 |
| H. | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Horace | 1 |
| Jean | 1 |
| Lionel | 1 |
| Luman | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Percy | 1 |
| Philip | 1 |
| Ths. | 1 |
| Willm.E. | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bowdon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 300 people were recorded with the Bowdon surname. That placed it at #9,724 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Bowdon a modern rank of #35,887.
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley town".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bowdon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.