NameCensus.

UK surname

Bownass

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Bownass surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melling, Windermere and Hawkshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Flintshire and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bownass is 131 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1891

131 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bownass had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bownass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bownass surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bownass 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 131 #20,073
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Bownass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melling, Windermere, Hawkshead, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ulverstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Flintshire, Wycombe and Kirklees. 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 Melling Lancashire
2 Windermere Westmorland
3 Hawkshead Lancashire
4 Kirkby Lonsdale Westmorland
5 Ulverstone Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland
2 Flintshire 006 Flintshire
3 Wycombe 022 Wycombe
4 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
5 Kirklees 002 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bownass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bownass

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

City Support Workers

Within London, Bownass is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

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

Bownass 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

Bownass falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Bownass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bownass 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. Westmorland leads with 48 Bownass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 311.08x.

County Total Index
Westmorland 48 311.08x
Lancashire 19 2.28x
Yorkshire 3 0.43x
Durham 1 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Casterton in Westmorland leads with 15 Bownass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10714.29x.

Place Total Index
Casterton 15 10714.29x
Middleton 14 23333.33x
Newchurch 7 102.64x
Undermilbeck 7 1372.55x
Barbon 5 7142.86x
Church Coniston 5 2173.91x
Patterdale 5 2941.18x
Whittington 5 6250.00x
Overton 3 15000.00x
Arkholme With Cawood 2 2857.14x
Applethwaite 1 217.39x
Budby 1 3333.33x
Mansergh 1 1666.67x
Shildon 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Juliet 1
Mable 1
Margret 1
Maude 1
Virtue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 4
William 3
George 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Arthur 1
Frank 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Raymond 1
Robert 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Bownass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bownass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Bownass surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bownass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Bownass a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Bownass map show?

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