NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowley

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Boughley.

In the 1881 census there were 1,644 people recorded with the Bowley surname, ranking it #2,611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,375, ranked #2,761, down from #2,611 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Erewash and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowley is 2,596 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.5%.

1881 census count

1,644

Ranked #2,611

Modern count

2,375

2016, ranked #2,761

Peak year

1911

2,596 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowley had 1,644 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,611 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,375 in 2016, ranked #2,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,596 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowley 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 1,148 #2,459
1861 historical 1,359 #2,111
1881 historical 1,644 #2,611
1891 historical 2,132 #2,183
1901 historical 2,297 #2,367
1911 historical 2,596 #1,974
1997 modern 2,461 #2,550
1998 modern 2,517 #2,594
1999 modern 2,517 #2,620
2000 modern 2,483 #2,634
2001 modern 2,418 #2,641
2002 modern 2,436 #2,684
2003 modern 2,389 #2,674
2004 modern 2,369 #2,691
2005 modern 2,305 #2,717
2006 modern 2,338 #2,694
2007 modern 2,359 #2,693
2008 modern 2,375 #2,692
2009 modern 2,429 #2,705
2010 modern 2,450 #2,740
2011 modern 2,437 #2,725
2012 modern 2,370 #2,743
2013 modern 2,422 #2,735
2014 modern 2,424 #2,747
2015 modern 2,375 #2,766
2016 modern 2,375 #2,761

Geography

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Where Bowleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Brighton and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Erewash and North West Leicestershire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 005 Charnwood
2 Charnwood 010 Charnwood
3 Erewash 003 Erewash
4 North West Leicestershire 010 North West Leicestershire
5 Erewash 005 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowley

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

Bowley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bowley

The surname Bowley is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name "Bowley" or "Bawley," which was once a hamlet located near the town of Harthill in Yorkshire, England.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various forms such as "de Boulay," "de Bouleye," and "de Bouelaye." These variations reflect the Norman-French influence on the English language during that period, as many surnames were originally derived from place names or descriptive terms.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was William de Bouleye, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the late 13th century.

Interestingly, the name Bowley does not appear in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name likely emerged or gained prominence after the Norman Conquest.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Bowley throughout history. One such figure was Robert Bowley (1550-1621), an English clergyman who served as the rector of Barking in Essex. Another was John Bowley (1685-1749), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Derby from 1734 to 1741.

In the 18th century, William Bowley (1705-1780) was a renowned English sculptor and carver who contributed to the decorative woodwork at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. His son, also named William Bowley (1732-1805), followed in his footsteps and became a respected sculptor and wood carver as well.

Moving into the 19th century, Arthur Liston Bowley (1869-1957) was a renowned British statistician and economist who made significant contributions to the field of statistics and its applications in social sciences. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern statistics.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Bowley throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowley 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. Leicestershire leads with 269 Bowleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.13x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 269 15.13x
Sussex 199 7.36x
Middlesex 192 1.20x
Nottinghamshire 137 6.34x
Surrey 118 1.51x
Derbyshire 86 3.43x
Wiltshire 74 5.22x
Gloucestershire 68 2.16x
Yorkshire 65 0.41x
Hampshire 60 1.83x
Warwickshire 52 1.29x
Berkshire 49 4.07x
Kent 44 0.80x
Staffordshire 37 0.68x
Essex 30 0.95x
Worcestershire 26 1.24x
Lancashire 19 0.10x
Cheshire 17 0.48x
Herefordshire 17 2.59x
Durham 15 0.31x
Oxfordshire 10 1.01x
Dorset 9 0.86x
Monmouthshire 8 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.62x
Devon 6 0.18x
Northumberland 6 0.25x
Hertfordshire 5 0.45x
Somerset 4 0.16x
Cornwall 3 0.17x
Cumberland 3 0.22x
Northamptonshire 3 0.20x
Shropshire 3 0.22x
Lincolnshire 2 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 54 Bowleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.90x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 54 9.90x
Sheepshed 54 221.58x
Gotham 48 852.58x
Battersea 37 6.27x
Hugglescote 27 103.21x
Slindon 27 971.22x
Loughborough 25 30.99x
St Marylebone London 24 2.80x
Islington London 23 1.48x
Basford 21 21.08x
Birmingham 21 1.56x
Burton Upon Trent 21 16.58x
St Pancras London 21 1.63x
Chelsea London 20 4.14x
Appleby 19 456.73x
Ham 18 1651.38x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 17 357.14x
Stapleford 17 96.81x
Aston 16 1.44x
Broadwater 16 25.80x
Lambeth 16 1.14x
Portsea 16 2.48x
Great Bedwin 15 148.96x
Hathern 15 208.33x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.68x
West Ham 15 2.15x
Whitwick 15 66.34x
Hoyland Nether 14 35.92x
Nether Broughton 14 562.25x
Clerkenwell London 13 3.43x
Leicester St Mary 13 9.05x
Leominster 13 149.25x
Aldingbourn 12 294.12x
Hammersmith London 12 3.04x
South Bersted 12 52.17x
Tidcombe Fosbury 12 779.22x
Bradford 11 12.35x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 24.26x
Camberwell 10 0.98x
Clifton 10 6.29x
Dale Abbey 10 448.43x
Eartham 10 1176.47x
Great Malvern 10 22.88x
Greenwich 10 3.92x
Hackney London 10 1.11x
Hampstead London 10 4.00x
Lower Mitton 10 54.17x
Speen 10 50.76x
St George Hanover Square 10 3.54x
Vernham Dean 10 304.88x
Wingfield South 10 148.59x
Aston 9 246.58x
Derby St Alkmund 9 11.96x
Dewsbury 9 5.52x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 9 566.04x
Heanor 9 23.97x
Ilkeston 9 12.79x
Streatham 9 7.56x
Yapton 9 295.08x
Buttermere 8 1126.76x
Lee 8 10.07x
Lewisham 8 2.74x
Littlehampton 8 37.07x
Melton Mowbray 8 25.02x
New Shoreham 8 49.35x
Old Sodbury 8 203.56x
Pewsey 8 76.70x
Polesworth 8 41.67x
Sheffield 8 1.58x
Ashton Keynes 7 132.58x
Avenbury 7 313.90x
Bermondsey 7 1.47x
Church Gresley 7 17.52x
Clapham 7 3.49x
Harborne 7 4.03x
Heckmondwike 7 13.70x
Llangattock Llingoed 7 714.29x
New Windsor 7 17.30x
Parkstone 7 57.00x
West Dean 7 174.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 113
Sarah 62
Elizabeth 59
Eliza 36
Ann 34
Emma 32
Alice 31
Ellen 28
Jane 25
Annie 22
Emily 18
Ada 13
Clara 12
Hannah 12
Louisa 12
Maria 12
Charlotte 11
Harriet 10
Catherine 9
Edith 9
Fanny 9
Kate 9
Martha 9
Caroline 8
Harriett 8
Amelia 7
Margaret 7
Agnes 6
Frances 6
Lucy 6
Matilda 6
Amy 5
Anne 5
Isabella 5
Rose 5
Selina 5
Susan 5
Beatrice 4
Florence 4
Maud 4
Rebecca 4
Sophia 4
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Lois 3
Minnie 3
Rosina 3
Agness 2
Anna 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 108
John 85
George 66
Thomas 57
James 51
Charles 50
Henry 36
Joseph 31
Arthur 23
Alfred 21
Albert 20
Edward 20
Frederick 19
Harry 13
Robert 10
Walter 10
Richard 8
Samuel 8
Ernest 7
Herbert 7
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Isaac 5
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Fredrick 4
Sidney 4
Ambrose 3
Daniel 3
Ephraim 3
Jesse 3
Mark 3
Thos. 3
Allan 2
Andrew 2
Barnard 2
Douglas 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Fredk.R. 2
Luke 2
Maurice 2
Nathan 2
Noah 2
Robt. 2
Stafford 2

FAQ

Bowley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,644 people were recorded with the Bowley surname. That placed it at #2,611 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,375 in 2016. That gives Bowley a modern rank of #2,761.

What does the Bowley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Boughley.

What does the Bowley map show?

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