NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowell

An Old English habitational surname derived from someone residing at a narrow or enclosed valley or hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Bowell surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 528, ranked #9,603, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bromley, Great and Oxford City: St Thomas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Coventry and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowell is 903 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.1%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

528

2016, ranked #9,603

Peak year

1891

903 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowell had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016, ranked #9,603.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 903 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowell 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 425 #5,746
1861 historical 811 #3,398
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 903 #4,563
1901 historical 775 #5,791
1911 historical 879 #5,063
1997 modern 650 #7,655
1998 modern 693 #7,538
1999 modern 662 #7,834
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 605 #8,249
2002 modern 623 #8,228
2003 modern 604 #8,283
2004 modern 589 #8,467
2005 modern 573 #8,544
2006 modern 578 #8,521
2007 modern 562 #8,750
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 574 #8,880
2010 modern 584 #8,962
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 543 #9,264
2013 modern 541 #9,459
2014 modern 550 #9,395
2015 modern 546 #9,370
2016 modern 528 #9,603

Geography

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Where Bowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bromley, Great, Oxford City: St Thomas, London parishes and Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Coventry and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bromley, Great Essex
3 Oxford City: St Thomas Oxfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 015 Barnsley
2 Coventry 037 Coventry
3 Stockton-on-Tees 002 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Coventry 041 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowell

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

London Fringe

Within London, Bowell 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

Bowell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowell 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 Bowell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bowell

The surname Bowell has its roots in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from a location or place name, as was common practice during that era. One possible derivation is from the Old English word "bol," meaning a round or curved shape, and "welle," referring to a spring or stream. This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who lived near a curved stream or well.

Another theory traces the name's origin to the Old English word "boga," meaning a bow or arc. This could indicate that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a curved or arched landscape feature, such as a bend in a river or a hill with a distinctive shape.

Historically, the name Bowell appears in various records from the 13th century onwards. One notable early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a certain Robert Bowell. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the name is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, where a John Bowell is mentioned in 1279. This provides evidence of the name's spread across different parts of England.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bowell was Sir John Bowell, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Oxfordshire during the 15th century. He was born around 1420 and died in 1489.

Another notable figure was Sir William Bowell, a military commander who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He was born in 1610 and fought for the Royalist cause under King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the name Bowell is associated with the philanthropist and social reformer Robert Bowell. Born in 1737 in Gloucestershire, he dedicated his life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for education.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir Charles Bowell, a renowned explorer and naturalist. Born in 1825 in Yorkshire, he embarked on several expeditions to Africa and the Americas, contributing significantly to the study of flora and fauna.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the achievements of the British writer and poet Evelyn Bowell, who lived from 1890 to 1978. Her literary works, including novels and poetry collections, garnered critical acclaim and cemented her place in the literary canon of her time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowell 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. Oxfordshire leads with 133 Bowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.61x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 133 35.61x
Middlesex 107 1.77x
Suffolk 61 8.28x
Yorkshire 36 0.60x
Sussex 34 3.33x
Essex 32 2.68x
Norfolk 32 3.44x
Surrey 30 1.02x
Gloucestershire 22 1.85x
Lancashire 19 0.26x
Lincolnshire 16 1.65x
Kent 15 0.73x
Wiltshire 12 2.24x
Herefordshire 11 4.44x
Somerset 11 1.13x
Warwickshire 11 0.72x
Cumberland 8 1.54x
Carmarthenshire 7 2.75x
Hampshire 6 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.09x
Staffordshire 3 0.15x
Worcestershire 2 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Durham 1 0.06x
Flintshire 1 0.62x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowley in Oxfordshire leads with 42 Bowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 360.21x.

Place Total Index
Cowley 42 360.21x
Oxford St Thomas 30 172.12x
Eye 24 504.20x
St Marylebone London 22 6.81x
Harrow 19 205.63x
North Lopham 19 1310.34x
Great Bromley 17 1133.33x
Lewisham 12 10.91x
S Stoke 12 685.71x
Hereford St Owen 11 134.31x
Holbeach 11 102.14x
Lewes All Sts 10 246.31x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 41.36x
Barking 9 236.22x
Mile End Old Town London 9 6.99x
Shipley 9 28.94x
Yaxley 9 1168.83x
Harbury 8 322.58x
Hillingdon 8 41.49x
Monkton Farleigh 8 919.54x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 6.27x
Broadwell 7 864.20x
Finstock Fawler 7 564.52x
Kensington London 7 2.08x
Llanelly 7 12.19x
Pendleton In Salford 7 8.19x
Shipley 7 303.03x
Acton 6 16.93x
Charlbury 6 143.20x
Iffley 6 190.48x
Lower Beeding 6 221.40x
Mile End New Town London 6 50.21x
Richmond 6 14.53x
Rickergate 6 54.45x
South Lopham 6 535.71x
West Ham 6 2.28x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.90x
Blo Norton 5 1000.00x
Chipping Norton 5 57.94x
Gorton 5 7.41x
Islington London 5 0.85x
Southcoates 5 15.03x
Southwark St John 5 27.03x
St George Hanover Square 5 4.69x
Yatton 5 131.93x
Brightside Bierlow 4 3.40x
Croydon 4 2.45x
Ipswich St Clement 4 21.37x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 4 58.48x
Middle Rasen 4 217.39x
Over Worton 4 3333.33x
Rochford 4 115.27x
St Pancras London 4 0.82x
Titchfield 4 42.83x
Birmingham 3 0.59x
Burgate 3 508.47x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.10x
Cuckfield 3 29.13x
Hampstead London 3 3.19x
Hunslet 3 3.21x
Leatherhead 3 40.65x
Middlesbrough 3 3.84x
Mildenhall 3 38.31x
Oxford St Giles 3 16.84x
Paddington London 3 1.35x
Rousham 3 937.50x
Steeple Barton 3 157.89x
Toxteth Park 3 1.23x
West Grinstead 3 97.72x
Wroxton 3 218.98x
Headington 2 34.48x
Hove 2 4.47x
Little Bromley 2 256.41x
Melksham 2 21.53x
Newington 2 0.90x
Olney 2 39.53x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.64x
Spelsbury 2 176.99x
Wells St Cuthbert 2 30.12x
Weybridge 2 31.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Jane 22
Sarah 19
Hannah 15
Elizabeth 14
Eliza 13
Ellen 13
Emma 13
Ann 12
Emily 12
Annie 9
Florence 8
Alice 6
Louisa 6
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Frances 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Agnes 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Cathrine 2
Elizth. 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Minnie 2
Selina 2
Bessie 1
Carole 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth 1
Elouisa 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Janie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
George 24
John 20
James 19
Henry 17
Charles 15
Robert 14
Thomas 12
Edward 10
Frederick 10
Joseph 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Herbert 5
Richard 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Horace 3
Percy 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Edwin 2
Hiram 2
Levi 2
Saml. 2
Stanford 2
Wm. 2
Cecil 1
Davied 1
Edgar 1
Eugene 1
Fred 1
Friday 1
Gelert 1
Jas.Fredk. 1
Jerh. 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Wesley 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Phillip 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Bowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Bowell surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016. That gives Bowell a modern rank of #9,603.

What does the Bowell surname mean?

An Old English habitational surname derived from someone residing at a narrow or enclosed valley or hollow.

What does the Bowell map show?

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