NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowery

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "burian" referring to an archer or maker of bows.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Bowery surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and St Neots. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Forest of Dean and Gloucester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowery is 351 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.9%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

1998

351 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowery had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 333 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowery surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowery 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 303 #11,569
1911 historical 333 #10,624
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 335 #12,870
2005 modern 320 #13,243
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 305 #13,979
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 301 #14,809
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Bowerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, St Neots, Wigan and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stroud. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Neots Huntingdonshire
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 013 Wakefield
2 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
3 Gloucester 014 Gloucester
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Stroud 001 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowery

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Bowery is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bowery is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowery falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bowery

The surname Bowery originated in England during the medieval era, primarily in the county of Hertfordshire. It is derived from the Old English words "bogere" or "bougre," which referred to an archery practitioner or a maker of bows. This connection suggests that the name's earliest bearers were likely associated with the craft of bow-making or archery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1195, where a certain Robert le Bougre was mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 12th century and its potential link to the archery trade.

The surname Bowery has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Bowyer, Bougre, and Boughre. These variations reflect the evolving nature of English spelling and pronunciation over time.

In the 13th century, a record from the Curia Regis Rolls of 1225 mentions a William le Boghere, further solidifying the name's connection to the archery profession during that period.

Notably, the surname Bowery appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference highlights the antiquity of the name and its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Bowery throughout history, one can mention:

1. Sir William Bowyer (c. 1512-1584), an English statesman and Lord Mayor of London. 2. Robert Bowyer (1758-1825), an English printer and publisher from Palgrave, Suffolk. 3. Thomas Bowery (1733-1806), an English engraver and watercolorist known for his landscapes and architectural works. 4. Eliza Bowery (1783-1859), an English writer and novelist, author of the popular novel "The Heir of Montault." 5. John Bowery (1592-1663), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

The surname Bowery has a rich history rooted in the English archery tradition and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including statesmen, artists, and academics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowery 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. Durham leads with 28 Bowerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.11x.

County Total Index
Durham 28 6.11x
Middlesex 22 1.43x
Lancashire 18 0.98x
Surrey 17 2.26x
Gloucestershire 13 4.30x
Norfolk 13 5.49x
Buckinghamshire 10 10.73x
Bedfordshire 9 11.28x
Berkshire 5 4.32x
Hampshire 4 1.27x
Hertfordshire 4 3.77x
Kent 4 0.76x
Yorkshire 4 0.26x
Northumberland 3 1.31x
Essex 2 0.66x
Royal Navy 1 5.45x
Sussex 1 0.38x

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 15 Bowerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.16x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 15 11.16x
Taverham 10 9090.91x
Witton Le Wear 10 769.23x
Bedford St Mary 9 436.89x
Datchet 8 1250.00x
Escomb 7 331.75x
Langley 7 10000.00x
Wigan 7 27.40x
Islington London 6 4.02x
Aspull 5 116.28x
Hammersmith London 5 13.17x
Pilkington 5 71.94x
Westbury On Severn East 5 73.21x
Aldershot 4 37.81x
Greenwich 4 16.31x
Hemel Hempstead 4 83.51x
Kensington London 4 4.67x
Newland 4 157.48x
Oxenhall 4 3076.92x
Reading St Mary 4 43.15x
Barnsley 3 19.05x
Hingham 3 365.85x
St Pancras London 3 2.42x
Bishopwearmouth 2 5.08x
Mile End Old Town London 2 6.10x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 14.61x
St Marylebone London 2 2.43x
West Ham 2 2.98x
Wooburn 2 156.25x
Bermondsey 1 2.18x
Collierley 1 49.02x
Hastings St Leonards 1 26.18x
Holbeck 1 9.88x
Longhurst 1 227.27x
New Windsor 1 25.71x
Penge 1 10.16x
Royal Navy 1 6.37x
South Shields 1 24.51x
Widnes 1 7.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Harriett 4
Maria 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Celia 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Alici 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Deberah 1
Edith 1
Elza 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Hadah 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Judith 1
Leah 1
Margaret 1
Marttia 1
Minna 1
Rose 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 9
Edward 4
John 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
James 3
Ralph 3
Fred 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Enock 1
Frederick 1
Jabez 1
Lewis 1
Patrick 1
Rbt. 1
Reginauld 1
Robert 1
Roland 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Bowery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Bowery surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Bowery a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Bowery surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English "burian" referring to an archer or maker of bows.

What does the Bowery map show?

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