NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowe

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "bui," meaning "yellow" or "fair-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 675 people recorded with the Bowe surname, ranking it #5,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,510, ranked #4,096, up from #5,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Carlisle and Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowe is 1,540 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.7%.

1881 census count

675

Ranked #5,339

Modern count

1,510

2016, ranked #4,096

Peak year

2013

1,540 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowe had 675 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,510 in 2016, ranked #4,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 925 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowe surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowe 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 404 #5,991
1861 historical 723 #3,763
1881 historical 675 #5,339
1891 historical 871 #4,716
1901 historical 851 #5,356
1911 historical 925 #4,845
1997 modern 1,434 #4,062
1998 modern 1,497 #4,060
1999 modern 1,524 #4,023
2000 modern 1,512 #4,035
2001 modern 1,439 #4,119
2002 modern 1,474 #4,123
2003 modern 1,449 #4,110
2004 modern 1,431 #4,151
2005 modern 1,420 #4,146
2006 modern 1,419 #4,149
2007 modern 1,438 #4,143
2008 modern 1,433 #4,179
2009 modern 1,491 #4,138
2010 modern 1,536 #4,120
2011 modern 1,510 #4,133
2012 modern 1,489 #4,120
2013 modern 1,540 #4,053
2014 modern 1,530 #4,106
2015 modern 1,514 #4,105
2016 modern 1,510 #4,096

Geography

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Where Bowes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, London parishes, Gateshead, Isall and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Carlisle and Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn. 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 Darlington Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Isall Cumberland
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
3 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
4 Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn Fife
5 Allerdale 007 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowe, 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 Bowe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bowe 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bowe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bowe is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowe falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bowe

The surname Bowe originated in England and has its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "boga," which means "a bender," referring to a maker or seller of bows. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in the trade of archery equipment or were skilled bowyers.

The earliest recorded instances of the Bowe surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable example is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mentions a person named Robert le Boghere, derived from the Old English word "boga" and the occupational suffix "-ere," indicating a bowyer or bow maker.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Bowe surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire in 1284, where a person named Walter le Boughiere was mentioned. The surname also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John le Boughiere was listed.

In the 15th century, the surname Bowe was found in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondences from the Paston family of Norfolk, England. One letter, dated 1472, mentions a person named John Bowe, indicating the gradual transition from the earlier spellings to the more modern form.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Bowe. One prominent figure was John Bowe (1512-1590), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Carlisle. Another individual was Robert Bowe (1470-1537), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex.

In the 17th century, the Bowe surname gained prominence with the birth of John Bowe (1627-1675), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton. During the same period, Henry Bowe (1633-1694) was a notable English mathematician and academic at the University of Oxford.

The 18th century saw the birth of Robert Bowe (1753-1830), an Irish-born English actor and dramatist known for his performances in Shakespeare's plays. Additionally, William Bowe (1721-1792) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

As the Bowe surname spread across different regions, it also gave rise to various place names and local variants. For instance, the village of Bowe in County Durham, England, is believed to have derived its name from the Old English word "boga," suggesting a connection to the surname's origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowe 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. Cumberland leads with 156 Bowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.52x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 156 27.52x
Yorkshire 131 2.01x
Lancashire 127 1.63x
Durham 72 3.68x
Middlesex 40 0.61x
Midlothian 16 1.81x
Staffordshire 13 0.58x
Westmorland 13 8.98x
Devon 12 0.88x
Essex 10 0.77x
Hertfordshire 10 2.20x
Surrey 9 0.28x
Warwickshire 9 0.54x
Kent 8 0.36x
East Lothian 7 8.03x
Stirlingshire 7 2.88x
Hampshire 5 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.56x
Shropshire 4 0.70x
Argyllshire 3 1.64x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.75x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.38x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.13x
Lanarkshire 2 0.09x
Channel Islands 1 0.51x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.37x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.66x
Perthshire 1 0.34x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Above Derwent in Cumberland leads with 23 Bowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1090.05x.

Place Total Index
Above Derwent 23 1090.05x
Cockermouth 23 192.79x
Hunton 18 1935.48x
Manchester 16 4.55x
Darlington 14 18.51x
Keswick 14 193.10x
Harborne 12 16.85x
Blindcrake Isel Redmain 11 1506.85x
Scotton In Richmond 11 4230.77x
Everton 10 4.02x
Hawes 10 234.19x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 11.79x
Whitehaven 10 33.09x
Wigan 10 9.16x
Redbourn 9 181.45x
St Cuthbert W O 9 32.57x
Atherton 8 28.13x
Birmingham 8 1.45x
Bridekirk 8 176.60x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 2.25x
Ellerton Upon Swale 8 2051.28x
Halliwell 8 28.13x
Mile End New Town London 8 61.49x
Whashton 8 3333.33x
Ambleside 7 155.90x
Bowling 7 10.83x
Dunbar 7 57.24x
Gateshead 7 4.77x
Hammersmith London 7 4.32x
Hulme 7 4.29x
Kilsyth 7 45.22x
Spotland 7 8.06x
Wetheral 7 93.21x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.57x
Bothel Threapland 6 674.16x
Broadhempston 6 468.75x
Chelsea London 6 3.02x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.46x
Dewsbury 6 8.97x
Great Ayton 6 150.00x
Great Warley 6 204.08x
Heptonstall 6 65.50x
Leeds 6 1.63x
Liverpool 6 1.26x
Scorton 6 652.17x
Bassenthwaite 5 434.78x
Borrowdale 5 495.05x
Brackenthwaite 5 1923.08x
Burnley 5 7.60x
Casterton 5 381.68x
Clapham 5 6.07x
Conside Knitsley 5 32.83x
Coundon 5 62.97x
Over Darwen 5 8.01x
Preston 5 2.39x
Sandwith 5 595.24x
St Giles 5 40.88x
West Derby 5 2.19x
Wythop 5 2000.00x
Bainbridge 4 259.74x
Boningale 4 909.09x
Bradford 4 2.53x
Cockerton 4 63.69x
Islington London 4 0.63x
Mansfield 4 13.03x
Penshaw 4 68.03x
Preston Quarter 4 25.17x
Setmurthy 4 1025.64x
Southwick 4 21.56x
Tanfield 4 17.17x
Toxteth Park 4 1.51x
Aylesbury 3 17.01x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.42x
Edinburgh New North 3 39.06x
Edinburgh St Stephens 3 17.28x
Great Langton 3 1000.00x
Oldham 3 1.19x
Salford 3 1.31x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.59x
Westminster St Margaret 3 9.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Sarah 25
Elizabeth 23
Jane 19
Margaret 19
Ann 16
Annie 15
Hannah 9
Ellen 7
Emma 7
Catherine 6
Anne 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Dorothy 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Cathrine 2
Christabel 2
Fanny 2
H. 2
Harriet 2
Johanna 2
Julie 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.M.B. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Isabel 1
Isabelle 1
J. 1
Jemima 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 69
William 30
Joseph 23
George 21
Thomas 21
James 19
Henry 10
Michael 7
Richard 7
Charles 6
Edward 6
Alfred 4
Banks 4
Francis 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Leonard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Joshua 2
Thos. 2
Arther 1
Aubrey 1
C. 1
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
David 1
E. 1
Ed. 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Gordon 1
Irving 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jeffrey 1
Job 1
Laurence 1
Levi 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Oswald 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bowe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 675 people were recorded with the Bowe surname. That placed it at #5,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,510 in 2016. That gives Bowe a modern rank of #4,096.

What does the Bowe surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic word "bui," meaning "yellow" or "fair-haired."

What does the Bowe map show?

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