UK surname
A topographic name for someone living near a ridge or hill.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Bowick surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gosforth, St Dunstan Stepney and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowick is 121 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.0%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1891
121 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bowick surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bowick surname density by area, 1901 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 42 | #34,222 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 55 | #34,649 |
| 2015 | modern | 54 | #34,675 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gosforth, St Dunstan Stepney, Edinburgh, St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet and London parishes. 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 | Gosforth | Northumberland |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bowick 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 Bowick, 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 Bowick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bowick 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, Bowick 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 Bowick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bowick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bowick has its origins traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "boc" meaning "beech" and "wic" meaning "dwelling" or "village." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near or in a village surrounded by beech trees.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bowick can be found in various historical documents from the medieval period, such as the Domesday Book of 1086. This comprehensive survey of landholdings in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions individuals with the name Bowick, though the spelling variations were common during that era.
One notable historical figure with the surname Bowick was Sir John Bowick (1532-1598), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another early recorded individual with this name was William Bowick (1610-1672), a Puritan clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
In the 18th century, a family of Bowicks resided in the village of Bowick, Northamptonshire, England. This village likely took its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the presence of beech trees in the area.
Another individual of note was Thomas Bowick (1786-1854), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions during the early 19th century.
Moving forward in time, Mary Bowick (1845-1923) was a notable American educator and activist who campaigned for women's rights and served as the president of the Wisconsin Woman Suffrage Association in the late 19th century.
It is important to note that the surname Bowick, like many others, has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Bowycke, Bowicke, and Bowyk, among others. These variations were common due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and the evolution of language over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowick 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. Angus leads with 23 Bowicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Angus | 23 | 31.43x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.90x |
| Kincardineshire | 12 | 124.74x |
| Bedfordshire | 7 | 17.11x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 2.74x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 3.88x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 4.41x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.74x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.89x |
| West Lothian | 2 | 16.81x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.73x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Montrose in Angus leads with 14 Bowicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 315.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Montrose | 14 | 315.32x |
| Ratcliffe London | 9 | 206.42x |
| Bedford St Paul | 7 | 249.11x |
| Fettercairn | 7 | 1707.32x |
| Brechin | 5 | 173.61x |
| Shrawley | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Barony | 3 | 4.64x |
| Glasgow | 3 | 6.61x |
| St Cyrus | 3 | 750.00x |
| Bow London | 2 | 19.88x |
| Carriden | 2 | 370.37x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 4.70x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 13.92x |
| Liff Benvie | 2 | 18.00x |
| Millom | 2 | 96.15x |
| Northwood | 2 | 86.58x |
| Shadwell London | 2 | 90.50x |
| Aberdare | 1 | 10.59x |
| Barry | 1 | 113.64x |
| Bervie | 1 | 175.44x |
| Farnell | 1 | 588.24x |
| Fordoun | 1 | 185.19x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.26x |
| Keswick | 1 | 114.94x |
| Maryhill | 1 | 20.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.44x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 13.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bowick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bowick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bowick households.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Bowick surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Bowick a modern rank of #34,838.
A topographic name for someone living near a ridge or hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bowick 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.