NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowker

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or used bows, or a baker.

In the 1881 census there were 2,924 people recorded with the Bowker surname, ranking it #1,531 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,551, ranked #2,596, down from #1,531 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Radcliffe, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Doncaster and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowker is 3,597 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.8%.

1881 census count

2,924

Ranked #1,531

Modern count

2,551

2016, ranked #2,596

Peak year

1911

3,597 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowker had 2,924 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,531 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,551 in 2016, ranked #2,596.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,597 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bowker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowker 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 1,938 #1,496
1861 historical 1,756 #1,646
1881 historical 2,924 #1,531
1891 historical 3,086 #1,525
1901 historical 3,373 #1,652
1911 historical 3,597 #1,454
1997 modern 2,717 #2,352
1998 modern 2,857 #2,348
1999 modern 2,861 #2,355
2000 modern 2,822 #2,368
2001 modern 2,782 #2,357
2002 modern 2,786 #2,394
2003 modern 2,726 #2,393
2004 modern 2,694 #2,414
2005 modern 2,634 #2,435
2006 modern 2,625 #2,445
2007 modern 2,635 #2,452
2008 modern 2,658 #2,450
2009 modern 2,703 #2,462
2010 modern 2,722 #2,507
2011 modern 2,677 #2,510
2012 modern 2,555 #2,572
2013 modern 2,649 #2,536
2014 modern 2,631 #2,562
2015 modern 2,581 #2,577
2016 modern 2,551 #2,596

Geography

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Where Bowkers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Radcliffe, Stockport, Manchester, Blackburn and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Doncaster, Pendle, Staffordshire Moorlands and Oldham. 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 Radcliffe Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 003 Lancaster
2 Doncaster 007 Doncaster
3 Pendle 002 Pendle
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Oldham 007 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowker

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Bowker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bowker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bowker 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

Bowker is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bowker

The surname Bowker originated in England during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "bocere," which means "a keeper of books or records." The name was initially used to describe a person who worked as a scribe or bookkeeper.

The earliest recorded instance of the Bowker surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1170. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English government, and they listed individuals by their occupations or locations.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Bockere," "Bokere," and "Boker," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. During this period, the Bowker family was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Bowker surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the development of the name, such as "Bokenhale" (modern-day Bucknall) and "Bochinton" (modern-day Boughton).

One notable historical figure with the Bowker surname was Sir Richard Bowker (1497-1554), a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1543. He played a significant role in the city's governance and was involved in various civic projects.

Another prominent individual was Jeremiah Bowker (1632-1685), a Baptist minister and author from Yorkshire. He wrote several religious works and was known for his nonconformist views during the Puritan era.

In the 18th century, John Bowker (1734-1784) was a renowned English engraver and portrait painter. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy and is remembered for his exceptional skill in capturing likenesses.

During the 19th century, the Bowker name gained further recognition with the birth of Robert Bowker (1836-1926), an English-born American publisher and bibliographer. He founded the influential R.R. Bowker Company, which published Books in Print and other essential reference works for the publishing industry.

Another notable figure was Frances Bowker (1855-1922), a British philanthropist and social reformer. She was actively involved in various charitable organizations and worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London.

The Bowker surname has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England. Its origins are rooted in the occupation of record-keeping and book-keeping, and it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including politicians, religious figures, artists, and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowker 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. Lancashire leads with 1,614 Bowkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.78x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,614 4.78x
Yorkshire 357 1.26x
Cheshire 335 5.33x
Staffordshire 114 1.19x
Middlesex 82 0.29x
Surrey 75 0.54x
Warwickshire 61 0.85x
Shropshire 44 1.79x
Worcestershire 29 0.78x
Derbyshire 20 0.45x
Kent 18 0.19x
Hampshire 17 0.29x
Wiltshire 17 0.67x
Gloucestershire 15 0.27x
Durham 14 0.17x
Norfolk 12 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.55x
Leicestershire 9 0.29x
Denbighshire 8 0.74x
Glamorgan 8 0.16x
Herefordshire 6 0.51x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.43x
Hertfordshire 5 0.25x
Lincolnshire 5 0.11x
Flintshire 4 0.52x
Northumberland 4 0.09x
Bedfordshire 3 0.20x
Essex 3 0.05x
Dorset 2 0.11x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Royal Navy 2 0.59x
Westmorland 2 0.32x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Devon 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Sussex 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. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 87 Bowkers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.72x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 87 5.72x
Hyde 78 42.04x
Salford 73 7.34x
Ashton Under Lyne 71 9.61x
Oldham 66 6.05x
Radcliffe 62 38.05x
Blackburn 58 6.45x
Newton 53 20.34x
Gorton 44 13.85x
Atherton 42 34.14x
Barton Upon Irwell 41 16.11x
Keighley 40 13.29x
Hulme 38 5.39x
Nantwich 37 50.64x
Birmingham 34 1.42x
Broughton In Salford 34 11.00x
Great Bolton 33 7.37x
Barrowford Booth 32 85.56x
Lancaster 32 15.91x
Tottington Lower End 32 19.92x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 32 32.89x
Huddersfield 30 7.30x
Clitheroe 28 28.15x
Accrington 27 8.79x
Battersea 25 2.39x
Droylsden 25 22.67x
Darlaston 24 18.06x
Cheetham 23 9.12x
Colne 23 22.84x
Newton In Ashton Under 22 35.46x
Pendleton In Salford 21 5.21x
Bury 20 5.18x
Denton 20 26.70x
Little Bolton 20 4.60x
Worsley 20 9.60x
Haughton 19 38.53x
Openshaw 19 12.00x
Preston 19 2.10x
Aston 18 0.91x
Habergham Eaves 18 5.83x
Liverpool 18 0.88x
Heap 17 9.48x
Horton In Bradford 17 3.86x
Dukinfield 16 5.51x
Halifax 16 3.86x
Islington London 16 0.58x
Barnoldswick 15 38.07x
Burnley 15 5.27x
Darlington 14 4.28x
Dewsbury 14 4.84x
Heaton Norris 14 7.28x
Kings Norton 14 4.20x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.79x
Beswick 13 15.04x
Bowling 13 4.65x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 2.47x
Camberwell 13 0.71x
Haslingden 13 9.29x
Manningham 13 3.74x
Westleigh 13 16.94x
Altrincham 12 10.92x
Barrow In Furness 12 2.61x
Bredbury 12 32.98x
Stretford 12 6.45x
Carlton In Skipton 11 66.67x
Chadderton 11 6.66x
Farnworth 11 5.43x
Gate Fulford 11 16.69x
Harborne 11 3.57x
Ingleton 11 69.27x
Lambeth 11 0.44x
North Meols 11 3.32x
Sheffield 11 1.22x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 1.08x
Wolverhampton 11 1.49x
Worcester St Peter 11 15.62x
Burslem 10 3.63x
Fulshaw 10 86.43x
Golcar 10 13.40x
Wheelock 10 129.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 205
Sarah 152
Elizabeth 139
Ann 75
Jane 64
Alice 61
Ellen 53
Martha 46
Annie 44
Emma 43
Hannah 41
Margaret 40
Eliza 27
Emily 23
Harriet 18
Agnes 17
Fanny 16
Maria 14
Betsy 13
Clara 13
Ada 12
Amelia 12
Edith 12
Nancy 12
Charlotte 10
Anne 9
Caroline 9
Esther 9
Frances 9
Florence 8
Isabella 8
Lucy 8
Betty 7
Catherine 7
Eleanor 7
Louisa 7
Susannah 7
Harriett 6
May 6
Amy 5
Bertha 5
Elizth. 5
Jessie 5
Laura 5
Lydia 5
Matilda 5
Marion 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Susan 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 193
William 165
Thomas 135
James 126
George 75
Joseph 75
Henry 57
Edward 49
Robert 35
Samuel 34
Charles 30
Richard 28
Arthur 23
Walter 23
Frederick 21
Alfred 20
Albert 14
Fred 13
Harry 13
Ernest 10
David 9
Edwin 9
Herbert 9
Peter 9
Frank 8
Thos. 8
Wm. 8
Daniel 7
Edmund 6
Francis 6
Abraham 5
Enoch 5
Geo. 5
Jas. 5
Mark 5
Alexander 4
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Christopher 4
Fredk. 4
Orlando 4
Aaron 3
Adam 3
Edgar 3
Hesketh 3
Hugh 3
Jonathan 3
Saml. 3
W. 3
Willm. 3

FAQ

Bowker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,924 people were recorded with the Bowker surname. That placed it at #1,531 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,551 in 2016. That gives Bowker a modern rank of #2,596.

What does the Bowker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or used bows, or a baker.

What does the Bowker map show?

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