NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowie

From the Scottish place name Buchan, referring to someone from that region, or a variant of the surname Bowie.

In the 1881 census there were 2,619 people recorded with the Bowie surname, ranking it #1,698 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,967, ranked #2,267, down from #1,698 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and St. Ninians. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock and Keith and Fife Keith.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowie is 3,162 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.3%.

1881 census count

2,619

Ranked #1,698

Modern count

2,967

2016, ranked #2,267

Peak year

1901

3,162 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowie had 2,619 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,698 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,967 in 2016, ranked #2,267.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,162 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bowie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowie 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 1,659 #1,734
1861 historical 1,917 #1,518
1881 historical 2,619 #1,698
1891 historical 2,824 #1,678
1901 historical 3,162 #1,773
1911 historical 553 #7,252
1997 modern 2,753 #2,328
1998 modern 2,869 #2,341
1999 modern 2,879 #2,346
2000 modern 2,877 #2,341
2001 modern 2,786 #2,355
2002 modern 2,836 #2,364
2003 modern 2,737 #2,388
2004 modern 2,775 #2,366
2005 modern 2,775 #2,345
2006 modern 2,744 #2,359
2007 modern 2,781 #2,356
2008 modern 2,827 #2,329
2009 modern 2,872 #2,349
2010 modern 2,911 #2,374
2011 modern 2,927 #2,328
2012 modern 2,820 #2,372
2013 modern 2,911 #2,333
2014 modern 2,940 #2,325
2015 modern 2,940 #2,303
2016 modern 2,967 #2,267

Geography

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Where Bowies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, St. Ninians, South Uist and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Keith and Fife Keith, Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH and Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 St. Ninians Stirling
4 South Uist Inverness
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill Aberdeenshire
2 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
3 Keith and Fife Keith Moray
4 Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH Inverclyde
5 Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowie, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bowie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bowie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bowie 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

Bowie 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

Bowie 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 Bowie 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 Bowie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bowie

The surname BOWIE has its origins in Scotland and England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bugh" or "bowe," which means a bend or curve, often referring to a bent or curved landscape feature or a bend in a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Bowye." This document contains the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The BOWIE surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland and England, such as Bowiehill in Berwickshire, Scotland, and Bowie in Northumberland, England. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, the BOWIE family held lands in Ayrshire, Scotland, and played a significant role in the region's history. One notable member of the family was John BOWIE, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.

Another prominent figure with the BOWIE surname was Sir John BOWIE, a Scottish knight who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in the late 16th century. He was instrumental in strengthening the city's defenses during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

The BOWIE name also has a connection to the American Revolutionary War. Walter BOWIE (1742-1810), a Scottish-American planter from Maryland, served as a captain in the Continental Army and fought in several battles against the British forces.

In the 19th century, James BOWIE (1796-1836) gained fame as the designer of the iconic Bowie knife, which was used extensively during the Texas Revolution and later became a symbol of the American frontier. He was also a renowned fighter and was involved in several duels and skirmishes.

Another notable figure with the BOWIE surname was William BOWIE (1872-1940), a British writer and explorer who traveled extensively in Central Asia and wrote several books about his adventures, including "The Unexpected Life of a Victorian Explorer."

While the BOWIE surname has its roots in Scotland and England, it has since spread worldwide, with families carrying this name residing in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 566 Bowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.88x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 566 6.88x
Midlothian 272 7.98x
Renfrewshire 229 11.61x
Ayrshire 196 10.29x
Aberdeenshire 194 8.23x
Stirlingshire 128 13.64x
Banffshire 118 22.35x
Middlesex 90 0.35x
West Lothian 72 18.79x
Clackmannanshire 70 33.30x
Inverness-shire 62 8.16x
Morayshire 56 14.16x
Fife 55 3.65x
Perthshire 51 4.46x
Northumberland 50 1.32x
Angus 37 1.57x
Roxburghshire 30 6.51x
Dunbartonshire 28 4.09x
Kent 28 0.32x
Argyllshire 25 3.53x
Yorkshire 23 0.09x
Lancashire 19 0.06x
Surrey 19 0.15x
Sutherland 18 9.20x
Buteshire 17 11.02x
Derbyshire 17 0.43x
Durham 16 0.21x
Selkirkshire 14 6.08x
Hampshire 13 0.25x
Nairnshire 13 16.74x
Dumfriesshire 12 2.13x
Shetland 12 4.62x
Cumberland 9 0.41x
East Lothian 8 2.37x
Worcestershire 7 0.21x
Berkshire 5 0.26x
Cornwall 5 0.17x
Essex 3 0.06x
Gloucestershire 3 0.06x
Wigtownshire 3 0.89x
Devon 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 2 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.40x
Somerset 2 0.05x
Berwickshire 1 0.32x
Caithness 1 0.29x
Kincardineshire 1 0.32x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.27x
Peeblesshire 1 0.84x
Ross-shire 1 0.14x
Sussex 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 189 Bowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.28x.

Place Total Index
Govan 189 9.28x
Barony 167 8.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 132 9.62x
Glasgow 115 7.87x
Abbey 69 22.93x
South Uist 62 116.92x
Huntly 46 119.95x
Rathven 45 45.38x
St Ninians 43 46.22x
Alloa 40 39.24x
Dreghorn 40 116.01x
Riccarton 37 128.79x
South Leith 37 9.64x
Marnoch 33 116.40x
Dunfermline 32 13.81x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 31 7.03x
Kilmarnock 31 13.67x
Old Monkland 31 9.49x
Linlithgow 30 61.04x
West Greenock 30 8.47x
Aberdeen Old Machar 27 5.49x
Paisley Middle Church 24 20.90x
Hawick 20 19.39x
Tulliallan 20 103.31x
Islington London 19 0.77x
Kensington London 19 1.34x
Paisley Low Church 19 30.43x
Forres 18 43.31x
Stirling 18 15.21x
Tillicoultry 18 38.49x
East Greenock 17 9.13x
Elswick 17 5.63x
Lanark 17 25.67x
Milton In Gravesend 16 12.29x
Rothesay 16 21.42x
Falkirk 15 6.83x
King Edward 15 55.23x
Cockpen 14 35.13x
Hamilton 14 6.10x
Kilsyth 14 23.39x
North Leith 14 8.87x
Renfrew 14 21.50x
Lambeth 13 0.59x
Ayr 12 13.35x
Cathcart 12 11.25x
Cumbernauld 12 32.02x
Dollar 12 55.10x
Dundee 12 1.36x
Hackney London 12 0.84x
Loudoun 12 26.20x
Bathgate 11 13.22x
Campbeltown 11 12.87x
Denny 11 22.03x
Dornoch 11 49.89x
Elgin 11 14.30x
Galashiels 11 12.92x
Keith 11 19.55x
Lerwick 10 602.41x
Nairn 10 21.21x
Rafford 10 108.23x
Shottle 10 578.03x
Chapel Of Garioch 9 53.67x
Dunning 9 63.03x
Edinburgh Greenside S 9 72.82x
Uphall 9 21.35x
Abbotshall 8 14.21x
Baldernock 8 160.64x
Banff 8 17.45x
Chillingham 8 666.67x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 8 9.92x
Middle Greenock 8 14.86x
Newton On Ayr 8 14.03x
Paisley High Church 8 5.09x
Rutherglen 8 6.63x
St Luke London 8 1.96x
Abercorn 7 92.23x
Arbirlot 7 97.49x
Birse 7 73.30x
Shoreditch London 7 0.63x
West Derby 7 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Jane 15
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 10
Alice 8
Annie 6
Sarah 6
Eliza 5
Agnes 4
Jessie 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Henrietta 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Marion 3
Belinda 2
Bethia 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Janet 2
Margt.E. 2
Maria 2
Marie 2
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Christania 1
Christian 1
Christina 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elfie 1
Eliz. 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Ja... 1
Jennie 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
Mapie 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 21
Robert 16
James 14
Thomas 6
Alexander 5
Albert 4
Andrew 3
Archibald 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Joseph 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Adam 2
Allan 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Lachlan 2
A. 1
Alexandria 1
Alfred 1
Daniel 1
Fred 1
Hugh 1
Jonas 1
Lewis 1
Martimus 1
Martin 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Ross 1
Sam 1
W. 1
W.R. 1

FAQ

Bowie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,619 people were recorded with the Bowie surname. That placed it at #1,698 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,967 in 2016. That gives Bowie a modern rank of #2,267.

What does the Bowie surname mean?

From the Scottish place name Buchan, referring to someone from that region, or a variant of the surname Bowie.

What does the Bowie map show?

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