NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowmer

An occupational surname derived from the Old English term for a maker of bows.

In the 1881 census there were 342 people recorded with the Bowmer surname, ranking it #8,902 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 583, ranked #8,899, up from #8,902 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Silkstone and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Amber Valley and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowmer is 627 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.5%.

1881 census count

342

Ranked #8,902

Modern count

583

2016, ranked #8,899

Peak year

1999

627 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowmer had 342 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,902 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016, ranked #8,899.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 491 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowmer 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 342 #8,902
1891 historical 411 #8,675
1901 historical 491 #8,160
1911 historical 459 #8,364
1997 modern 582 #8,320
1998 modern 614 #8,252
1999 modern 627 #8,187
2000 modern 622 #8,216
2001 modern 602 #8,280
2002 modern 605 #8,415
2003 modern 605 #8,270
2004 modern 605 #8,299
2005 modern 600 #8,274
2006 modern 612 #8,161
2007 modern 599 #8,370
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 618 #8,400
2010 modern 621 #8,553
2011 modern 592 #8,782
2012 modern 596 #8,658
2013 modern 604 #8,703
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 599 #8,750
2016 modern 583 #8,899

Geography

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Where Bowmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Silkstone, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Werburgh and Wirksworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Amber Valley and Bolsover. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Wirksworth Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 050 County Durham
2 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
3 County Durham 049 County Durham
4 Amber Valley 007 Amber Valley
5 Bolsover 007 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowmer

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Bowmer is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bowmer is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowmer falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bowmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bowmer

The surname Bowmer is of English origin, rooted in the north of England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bolle" and "mere," meaning "bowl" and "lake" or "pool," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who lived near a body of water resembling a bowl shape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bowmer can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "Bolmere." This variation in spelling highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

In the 13th century, the name Bowmer appeared in various records across northern counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire. For example, a Robert de Bolmere was documented in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. The prefix "de" indicates a connection to a specific place, further reinforcing the name's geographical origins.

The Bowmer surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as Bolemir in Lancashire and Bowmer Hill in Yorkshire. These locations may have served as residences or properties belonging to individuals bearing the name, contributing to its establishment and dissemination.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the Bowmer surname. One such individual was John Bowmer (c. 1514 - 1583), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Rochester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was William Bowmer (1597 - 1650), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, James Bowmer (1718 - 1789) was a prominent English landowner and magistrate in Staffordshire. He played a role in the development of the pottery industry in the region. Additionally, Thomas Bowmer (1765 - 1838) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, known for his contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

Lastly, John Bowmer (1856 - 1938) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum's iconic façade.

While these examples illustrate the historical presence of the Bowmer surname across various regions and professions, it is important to note that the name's origins can be traced back to the northern counties of England, where it likely emerged as a descriptive identifier based on geographical features.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowmer 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. Derbyshire leads with 180 Bowmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.26x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 180 34.26x
Nottinghamshire 34 7.52x
Durham 19 1.90x
Middlesex 18 0.54x
Surrey 17 1.04x
Kent 16 1.40x
Northumberland 16 3.20x
Sussex 12 2.12x
Essex 9 1.36x
Lancashire 6 0.15x
Gloucestershire 5 0.76x
Leicestershire 4 1.08x
Norfolk 3 0.58x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 2.50x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crich in Derbyshire leads with 31 Bowmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 903.79x.

Place Total Index
Crich 31 903.79x
Heage 29 1043.17x
Belper 20 196.46x
Wirksworth 19 397.49x
Derby St Werburgh 15 49.46x
Warbleton 11 650.89x
Shottle Postern 10 3333.33x
Bonsall 9 576.92x
Braintree 9 151.26x
Camberwell 9 4.20x
Duffield 9 217.39x
Sandiacre 9 481.28x
Sandwich St Mary 9 865.38x
Swinhoe 9 5294.12x
St Pancras London 8 2.96x
Church Broughton 7 1029.41x
Heworth 7 35.59x
Bestwood Park 6 750.00x
Farnsfield 6 500.00x
Ilkeston 6 40.73x
Nottingham St Mary 6 5.13x
Blackburn 5 4.72x
Elswick 5 12.55x
Kirkby In Ashfield 5 103.31x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 81.17x
Chatham 4 12.70x
Cheltenham 4 7.88x
Helmington Row 4 86.02x
Westoe 4 7.07x
Battersea 3 2.43x
Brimington 3 75.19x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.79x
Denby 3 187.50x
Matlock 3 42.55x
Wandsworth 3 9.29x
Bradford 2 2.48x
Chapel En Le Frith 2 41.67x
Gateshead 2 2.68x
Great Bowden 2 59.17x
Gunthorpe 2 800.00x
Leicester St Martin 2 80.00x
Longbenton 2 9.46x
Mark Eaton 2 253.16x
Paddington London 2 1.62x
Penge 2 9.33x
Radford 2 8.70x
St Marylebone London 2 1.12x
Stranton 2 5.95x
Burton Upon Trent 1 3.77x
Castleton 1 2.52x
Chelsea London 1 0.99x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 3.96x
Derby St Peter 1 5.98x
Greasley 1 9.80x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.34x
Hastings All Sts 1 18.76x
Heanor 1 12.72x
Islington London 1 0.31x
Kirk Ireton 1 178.57x
Milton In Gravesend 1 5.82x
North Hamlet 1 169.49x
Rochester St Margaret 1 8.29x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 28.09x
Royal Navy 1 2.93x
Snenton 1 5.63x
St Giles In Fields London 1 6.08x
Stapleford 1 27.25x
Warsop Soulkholme 1 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 13
Ann 10
Annie 8
Ellen 8
Elizabeth 7
Emma 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Hannah 5
Alice 4
Florence 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Harriet 3
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Phebe 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellonor.J. 1
Eunice 1
Eve 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Isalt 1
Josephine 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Lucinda 1
Margt.E. 1
Maria 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 22
John 20
Joseph 18
William 17
Thomas 11
Henry 7
James 6
Harry 5
Isaac 5
Joshua 5
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Peter 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Aaron 1
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
George.W. 1
Henry.R. 1
Johnson 1
Lionel 1
Mathew 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Stephen 1
Stretton 1
Thos. 1
Willie 1
Wm.Hughes 1

FAQ

Bowmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 342 people were recorded with the Bowmer surname. That placed it at #8,902 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016. That gives Bowmer a modern rank of #8,899.

What does the Bowmer surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English term for a maker of bows.

What does the Bowmer map show?

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