NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowra

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Bowra surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hever, Seal and Rainham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet, Guildford and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowra is 138 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

84

2016, ranked #32,726

Peak year

1901

138 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2006

Key insights

  • Bowra had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016, ranked #32,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bowra surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowra surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bowra 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 81 #19,457
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 113 #25,106
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 113 #25,913
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 102 #29,286
2010 modern 106 #29,305
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 87 #32,514
2016 modern 84 #32,726

Geography

Back to top

Where Bowras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hever, Seal, Rainham, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet, Guildford and Peterborough. 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 Hever Kent
2 Seal Kent
3 Rainham Kent
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 016 Thanet
2 Guildford 017 Guildford
3 Peterborough 003 Peterborough
4 Thanet 007 Thanet
5 Thanet 010 Thanet

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bowra

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bowra

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Bowra 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

Bowra 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

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bowra families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowra 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. Kent leads with 29 Bowras recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.62x.

County Total Index
Kent 29 11.62x
Surrey 23 6.45x
Middlesex 14 1.91x
Hertfordshire 4 7.93x
Sussex 4 3.24x
Berkshire 1 1.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 9 Bowras recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.95x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 9 21.95x
Sevenoaks 7 346.53x
Gillingham 6 116.50x
Camberwell 5 10.70x
Hever 5 2941.18x
Penge 5 107.07x
Rainham 5 724.64x
Streatham 5 92.08x
Mile End Old Town London 4 25.69x
Upper Hardres 3 4285.71x
Bengeo 2 338.98x
Cliffe 2 357.14x
Croydon 2 10.11x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 219.78x
Lambeth 2 3.14x
Newington 2 7.40x
Rotherhithe 2 22.12x
Brasted 1 312.50x
Hastings All Sts 1 86.21x
Hastings St Mary 1 32.57x
Hertford St Andrew 1 161.29x
Sonning 1 163.93x
St Albans 1 97.09x
Whitechapel London 1 13.87x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Arthur 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Edward 2
George 2
James 2
John 2
Walter 2
Cecil 1
Clement 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Hen. 1

FAQ

Bowra surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowra surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Bowra surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowra surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Bowra a modern rank of #32,726.

What does the Bowra map show?

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