NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowens

A patronymic surname derived from the Welsh personal name Owain or Owein, meaning "noble-born" or "well-born."

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Bowens surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Watton, Hull Holy Trinity and Swanscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Huntingdonshire and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowens is 159 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.7%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1861

159 bearers

Map years

3

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowens had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowens surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowens 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Bowens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Watton, Hull Holy Trinity, Swanscombe, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe, Huntingdonshire, Enfield, Sunderland and Boston. 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 Watton Norfolk
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Swanscombe Kent
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 019 Wycombe
2 Huntingdonshire 002 Huntingdonshire
3 Enfield 021 Enfield
4 Sunderland 012 Sunderland
5 Boston 006 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowens

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

Bowens 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

Bowens falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bowens

The surname Bowens originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the Old English word "bogenere," which referred to a skilled archer or bowman. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by individuals whose profession involved archery or the crafting of bows.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bowens can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Bouginer, Bowyner, and Boughiner appearing in historical documents. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert le Boughiner.

During the 14th century, the name Bowens began to spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. This geographic distribution suggests that the surname may have originated in these areas, where archery and the production of bows were significant occupations.

In the Domesday Book, a valuable record of landowners and tenants in 11th century England, there are no direct references to the surname Bowens. However, this does not preclude the possibility that individuals with this occupation existed during that time, as surnames were still in their infancy.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Bowens include:

1. John Bowens (c. 1480-1556), a renowned English archer who served under King Henry VIII and participated in various military campaigns. 2. Elizabeth Bowens (1606-1672), a Puritan settler in New England and one of the founders of the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. 3. Sir William Bowens (1640-1712), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Vigo Bay during the War of the Spanish Succession. 4. Edward Bowens (1788-1868), an English poet and writer known for his works on nature and rural life. 5. Mary Bowens (1811-1891), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Bowens has also been associated with various place names, such as Bowenshall in Yorkshire and Bowensfield in Lincolnshire, further reinforcing its ties to specific geographic regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowens 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. Lincolnshire leads with 13 Bowens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.38x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 13 14.38x
Yorkshire 9 1.61x
Kent 7 3.63x
Middlesex 6 1.06x
Essex 5 4.48x
Warwickshire 4 2.80x
Durham 3 1.78x
Lancashire 2 0.30x
Northamptonshire 2 3.76x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.62x
Pembrokeshire 2 11.13x
Cheshire 1 0.80x
Surrey 1 0.36x
Worcestershire 1 1.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 9 Bowens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.77x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 9 66.77x
Boston 6 218.98x
Birmingham 4 8.41x
Broughton 4 1600.00x
Islington London 4 7.30x
Leyton Low 4 176.21x
Maidstone 4 69.57x
Birtley 2 289.86x
Braunston 2 952.38x
Candlesby 2 4000.00x
Herne 2 235.29x
Llanycefn 2 2857.14x
Nottingham St Mary 2 10.14x
Bilsby 1 1000.00x
Bobbing 1 1111.11x
Congleton 1 46.30x
Ferryhill 1 169.49x
Great Bolton 1 11.25x
Manchester 1 3.31x
Norwood 1 77.52x
Stoke 1 76.92x
West Ham 1 4.06x
Westminster St James 1 17.21x
Worcester All Sts 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Ann 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Agnes 1
Bertha 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Helen 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Ruth 1
Samuel 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Bowens households.

FAQ

Bowens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Bowens surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Bowens a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Bowens surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the Welsh personal name Owain or Owein, meaning "noble-born" or "well-born."

What does the Bowens map show?

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