NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowron

Derived from the Old English words 'bur' meaning dwelling and 'tun' meaning settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Bowron surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 448, ranked #10,842, up from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Middleton-in-Teesdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowron is 533 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.6%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

448

2016, ranked #10,842

Peak year

2002

533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowron had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016, ranked #10,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bowron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowron surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowron 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 411 #8,675
1901 historical 433 #8,954
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 516 #9,095
1998 modern 526 #9,238
1999 modern 529 #9,245
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 525 #9,128
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 511 #9,338
2004 modern 507 #9,419
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 493 #9,578
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 483 #10,114
2010 modern 491 #10,192
2011 modern 488 #10,135
2012 modern 467 #10,384
2013 modern 472 #10,450
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 460 #10,652
2016 modern 448 #10,842

Geography

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Where Bowrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Middleton-in-Teesdale, St Marylebone and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Middleton-in-Teesdale Durham
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 050 County Durham
2 County Durham 065 County Durham
3 County Durham 066 County Durham
4 Barrow-in-Furness 006 Barrow-in-Furness
5 County Durham 053 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowron

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Bowron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bowron household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Bowron is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bowron 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bowron

The surname Bowron is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the region of Lancashire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "burgh" and "tun," which meant "fortified town" or "farm."

The earliest recorded mention of the name Bowron can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Boreton." This suggests that the name was already in use among the local population at the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Boretun, Bourton, and Boroughton, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. These variations often referred to specific place names, such as Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire or Bourton-on-the-Hill in Warwickshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bowron was William de Bourton, who lived in Leicestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir John Bourton, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Bowron began to appear more frequently in historical records. John Bowron (c. 1520-1585) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, while Thomas Bowron (1548-1621) was a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Essex.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, individuals with the surname Bowron played significant roles in various fields. Edward Bowron (1632-1707) was a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, while Samuel Bowron (1684-1751) was a noted mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In more recent times, the name Bowron has been associated with several notable figures, such as the British writer and playwright Robert Bowron (1905-1988) and the Canadian artist and environmentalist Ted Bowron (1920-2008), who was known for his efforts to preserve wilderness areas in British Columbia.

Overall, the surname Bowron has a rich history that can be traced back to its English roots, with connections to various regions, historical events, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowron 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. Durham leads with 113 Bowrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.96x.

County Total Index
Durham 113 15.96x
Middlesex 41 1.72x
Yorkshire 35 1.48x
Northumberland 15 4.24x
Lancashire 10 0.35x
Warwickshire 9 1.50x
Cumberland 8 3.90x
Surrey 4 0.34x
Montgomeryshire 3 5.50x
Oxfordshire 2 1.36x
Westmorland 2 3.82x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.70x
Devon 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockton On Tees in Durham leads with 26 Bowrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.18x.

Place Total Index
Stockton On Tees 26 76.18x
Middleton In Teesdale 22 1176.47x
Kensington London 17 12.85x
Mile End Old Town London 10 19.74x
Coventry St Michael 9 46.68x
Ruswarp Hawsker Cum 9 1551.72x
Cotherston 8 1538.46x
Gainford 8 1095.89x
Sheraton With Hulam 8 5333.33x
St Marylebone London 8 6.30x
Elswick 7 24.77x
Ferryhill 7 282.26x
Heighington 7 1346.15x
Urswick 7 666.67x
Westgate 7 31.92x
Framwellgate 6 143.20x
Penrith 6 79.26x
Shildon 6 105.45x
Sunderland Bridge 5 446.43x
West Auckland 5 193.05x
Barnard Castle 4 114.29x
Middlesbrough 4 13.03x
Ovenden 4 38.10x
Rokeby 4 2500.00x
Whitby 4 50.31x
Everton 3 3.33x
Paddington London 3 3.43x
Pool 3 72.99x
Dalston 2 126.58x
Gateshead 2 3.77x
Kirkby Thore 2 476.19x
Lambeth 2 0.96x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 2 273.97x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.77x
Ackworth 1 55.25x
Bermondsey 1 1.41x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.65x
Bletchley 1 238.10x
Byers Green 1 50.00x
Coundon 1 34.84x
Croydon 1 1.55x
Elvet 1 19.57x
Filleigh 1 357.14x
Islington London 1 0.43x
Lamesley 1 26.25x
Redworth 1 222.22x
Ruswarp 1 38.17x
Stannington 1 119.05x
Wolsingham 1 15.50x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Bowron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Bowron surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016. That gives Bowron a modern rank of #10,842.

What does the Bowron surname mean?

Derived from the Old English words 'bur' meaning dwelling and 'tun' meaning settlement.

What does the Bowron map show?

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