NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowns

A surname derived from a place name referring to a location or dwelling near a valley or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 170 people recorded with the Bowns surname, ranking it #14,265 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 265, ranked #16,130, down from #14,265 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Blaby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Bassetlaw and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowns is 291 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

170

Ranked #14,265

Modern count

265

2016, ranked #16,130

Peak year

1999

291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowns had 170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,265 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016, ranked #16,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bowns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowns surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowns 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 170 #14,265
1891 historical 287 #11,473
1901 historical 275 #12,332
1911 historical 237 #13,406
1997 modern 283 #14,037
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 260 #15,216
2004 modern 272 #14,843
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 255 #15,521
2007 modern 252 #15,815
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 259 #16,013
2010 modern 260 #16,343
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 272 #15,586
2013 modern 275 #15,719
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 265 #16,130

Geography

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Where Bowns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Blaby, Bolsover and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Bassetlaw, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rotherham and Sheffield. 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 Bedworth Warwickshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Blaby Leicestershire
4 Bolsover Derbyshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 014 County Durham
2 Bassetlaw 006 Bassetlaw
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 014 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Rotherham 008 Rotherham
5 Sheffield 076 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowns

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowns

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bowns, 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 Bowns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bowns 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bowns is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Bowns is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bowns falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bowns is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bowns

The surname Bowns is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "bun" or "bune," meaning a "valley" or "hollow." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in or near a particular valley or hollow area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, which mention a person named William de Bunes. This early spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

Another historical reference to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1275, which lists a Reginald de la Boune. This record showcases the name's connection to a specific location, indicating that it likely originated as a descriptive name for someone residing in or near a particular valley or hollow.

During the 13th century, the name appears to have been concentrated primarily in the counties of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. This geographic distribution suggests that the name may have originated in or around these areas.

One notable individual bearing the surname Bowns was Sir William Bowns, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century. Records indicate that he was born in Warwickshire around 1520 and played a significant role in the local community.

Another historical figure with the surname was John Bowns, a prominent minister and author born in Northamptonshire in 1617. He published several theological works and is remembered for his contributions to the religious discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, a certain Thomas Bowns gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder. Born in Oxfordshire in 1725, he was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in the region, including churches and manor houses.

Additionally, the name Bowns has been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, there is a hamlet called Bowns Hill in Gloucestershire, and a farm called Bowns Barn in Worcestershire. These place names further reinforce the surname's connection to specific geographic locations.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Bowns has been subject to various spellings, including Bunes, Boune, Bowne, and Bowen. These variations reflect the fluidity of surnames in earlier times and the influence of regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowns 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. Yorkshire leads with 43 Bowns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 43 2.63x
Nottinghamshire 25 11.25x
Leicestershire 20 10.94x
Derbyshire 17 6.59x
Wiltshire 16 10.97x
Staffordshire 10 1.80x
Warwickshire 10 2.41x
Gloucestershire 6 1.86x
Surrey 5 0.62x
Middlesex 4 0.24x
Cheshire 3 0.82x
Hampshire 2 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.00x
Devon 1 0.29x
Durham 1 0.20x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 4.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.38x
Monmouthshire 1 0.84x
Somerset 1 0.38x
Suffolk 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rawmarsh in Yorkshire leads with 16 Bowns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 277.30x.

Place Total Index
Rawmarsh 16 277.30x
Blaby 15 2027.03x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 27.08x
Britford 7 729.17x
Norton 7 328.64x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 11.86x
Sutton In Ashfield 7 145.23x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 39.42x
Claylane 6 167.13x
Durnford 6 2400.00x
Radford 6 53.14x
Stroud 6 95.39x
Bedworth 5 165.02x
Elksley 5 2631.58x
Whitwick 4 172.41x
Brimington 3 153.06x
Coventry St Michael 3 22.47x
Milford 3 384.62x
Nether Hallam 3 13.57x
Nottingham St Mary 3 5.22x
St Marylebone London 3 3.41x
Walsall Foreign 3 10.44x
Birmingham 2 1.44x
Camberwell 2 1.90x
Doncaster 2 16.76x
Sheffield 2 3.85x
Stockport 2 10.68x
Askham 1 833.33x
Brightside Bierlow 1 3.12x
Chesterfield 1 10.33x
Christchurch 1 27.10x
Clare 1 104.17x
Farndon 1 250.00x
Fingest 1 526.32x
Greasbrough 1 46.30x
Hale 1 79.37x
Hammersmith London 1 2.46x
Haxey 1 89.29x
Highbridge 1 2000.00x
Laxton 1 370.37x
Martyr Worthy 1 714.29x
Newark Upon Trent 1 12.52x
Newington 1 1.64x
North South Anston 1 140.85x
Penge 1 9.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.78x
Rotherham 1 10.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.01x
Sparsholt 1 416.67x
Trimdon 1 57.80x
Urr 1 32.26x
Wath On Dearne 1 30.67x
Wigston Magna 1 41.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 9
Mary 9
Sarah 7
Annie 6
Ellen 5
Emma 4
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
Agatha 1
Agnes 1
Ammey 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Lilley 1
Lily 1
Martha 1
Selner 1
Thirza 1
Treza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 9
George 7
Henry 6
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
James 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Barthomlew 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Horris 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
Stewart 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bowns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 170 people were recorded with the Bowns surname. That placed it at #14,265 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016. That gives Bowns a modern rank of #16,130.

What does the Bowns surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a location or dwelling near a valley or hill.

What does the Bowns map show?

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