NameCensus.

UK surname

Bowyer

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of bows, an archer, or a hunter using a bow.

In the 1881 census there were 3,265 people recorded with the Bowyer surname, ranking it #1,383 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,521, ranked #1,497, down from #1,383 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leek and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire West and Chester and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bowyer is 4,946 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.5%.

1881 census count

3,265

Ranked #1,383

Modern count

4,521

2016, ranked #1,497

Peak year

2000

4,946 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bowyer had 3,265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,383 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,521 in 2016, ranked #1,497.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,695 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bowyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bowyer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bowyer 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 1,908 #1,515
1861 historical 1,846 #1,567
1881 historical 3,265 #1,383
1891 historical 3,459 #1,378
1901 historical 4,128 #1,362
1911 historical 4,695 #1,101
1997 modern 4,620 #1,417
1998 modern 4,913 #1,388
1999 modern 4,903 #1,396
2000 modern 4,946 #1,381
2001 modern 4,832 #1,382
2002 modern 4,907 #1,387
2003 modern 4,711 #1,405
2004 modern 4,638 #1,428
2005 modern 4,543 #1,440
2006 modern 4,599 #1,421
2007 modern 4,638 #1,420
2008 modern 4,603 #1,445
2009 modern 4,691 #1,452
2010 modern 4,695 #1,491
2011 modern 4,695 #1,462
2012 modern 4,599 #1,460
2013 modern 4,641 #1,483
2014 modern 4,630 #1,494
2015 modern 4,545 #1,506
2016 modern 4,521 #1,497

Geography

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Where Bowyers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leek, Lambeth and Warfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire West and Chester and Wycombe. 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 1
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Warfield Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Wycombe 019 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bowyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bowyer

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bowyer 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

Bowyer is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bowyer

The surname "BOWYER" is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "bowyer," which referred to a maker of bows and arrows, a highly skilled profession during those times.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in various medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, both dating back to the 13th century. These early mentions often appear with slight variations in spelling, such as "Bouyer" or "Bowiere."

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Robert le Bowyer, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. Another early bearer was William le Bowyer, listed in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279.

The surname is also found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the occupation of bowyer was already established in England during the Norman period.

Throughout history, the surname Bowyer has been associated with various notable figures. Sir William Bowyer (1663-1737) was a renowned English printer and publisher who established the Bowyer printing house in London. Sir John Bowyer, 1st Baronet (1623-1666), was an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Bowyer (1758-1834), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. William Bowyer (1699-1777) was an English printer and scholar known for his contributions to the field of typography and his work on the Cambridge edition of the Greek Testament.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Bowyer was also associated with various places in England, such as Bowyer's Hill in Hertfordshire and Bowyer's Lane in London, further solidifying its connection to the occupation of bowyer and the production of bows and arrows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bowyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bowyer 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. Middlesex leads with 412 Bowyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 412 1.29x
Surrey 344 2.22x
Cheshire 316 4.49x
Staffordshire 296 2.75x
Berkshire 219 9.16x
Lancashire 197 0.52x
Suffolk 151 3.89x
Gloucestershire 146 2.34x
Essex 143 2.27x
Kent 134 1.23x
Shropshire 108 3.92x
Hampshire 99 1.52x
Somerset 99 1.93x
Wiltshire 68 2.41x
Warwickshire 54 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 53 2.63x
Worcestershire 39 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 36 1.87x
Bedfordshire 34 2.06x
Sussex 32 0.60x
Derbyshire 30 0.60x
Huntingdonshire 26 4.11x
Glamorgan 25 0.45x
Devon 24 0.36x
Monmouthshire 24 1.04x
Hertfordshire 19 0.87x
Yorkshire 15 0.05x
Herefordshire 14 1.07x
Lincolnshire 14 0.27x
Oxfordshire 13 0.66x
Norfolk 12 0.25x
Denbighshire 10 0.83x
Dorset 10 0.48x
Midlothian 9 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.21x
Merionethshire 7 1.20x
Durham 5 0.05x
Cornwall 4 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.41x
Westmorland 3 0.43x
Northamptonshire 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.53x
Anglesey 1 0.18x
Brecknockshire 1 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kedington in Suffolk leads with 72 Bowyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 701.75x.

Place Total Index
Kedington 72 701.75x
Warfield 70 322.43x
Leek Lowe 67 46.84x
Islington London 61 1.98x
Norton In Moors 55 96.64x
Lambeth 51 1.84x
St Marylebone London 41 2.41x
Bradford On Avon 40 44.36x
Barnton 39 232.42x
St Pancras London 39 1.52x
Nantwich 38 46.52x
Winkfield 37 93.27x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 37 59.12x
Oswestry Rural 35 83.02x
Macclesfield 33 10.56x
Camberwell 32 1.57x
Rotherhithe 32 8.13x
Stevington 32 469.90x
Wolverhampton 32 3.87x
Croydon 29 3.37x
Kidderminster Borough 29 11.91x
Portsea 29 2.27x
Sedgley 29 7.26x
Southampton St Mary 29 7.06x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 27 4.59x
Stoke Upon Trent 27 2.37x
Aston 26 1.18x
Bethnal Green London 26 1.88x
Manchester 24 1.41x
Clerkenwell London 23 3.06x
Mile End Old Town London 22 3.25x
Battersea 21 1.79x
Hackney London 21 1.18x
Kemsing 21 434.78x
Kensington London 21 1.19x
Sunninghill 21 63.33x
Great Wratting 20 468.38x
Halstead 20 27.27x
Castle Camps 19 196.08x
Kingston On Thames 19 5.10x
Mangotsfield 19 30.52x
Whittington 19 82.47x
Enfield 18 8.61x
Binfield 17 92.64x
Barrow 16 427.81x
Chelsea London 16 1.67x
West Ham 16 1.15x
Oldham 15 1.23x
Stradishall 15 360.58x
Wokingham 15 27.49x
Leek Frith 14 156.42x
Winterbourne 14 40.56x
Great Dunmow 13 39.68x
Lewisham 13 2.24x
Runcorn 13 8.02x
Sandbach 13 21.68x
Taunton St Mary 13 13.81x
Toxteth Park 13 1.02x
Upton Cum Chalvey 13 16.94x
Chatham 12 4.01x
Frampton Cotterell 12 54.74x
Newington 12 1.02x
Oswestry Town 12 13.62x
Somersham 12 78.13x
Sutton In Macclesfield 12 16.45x
Walton On Hill 12 178.04x
Ash Normandy 11 52.16x
Biddulph 11 18.13x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 5.28x
Cherry Hinton 11 115.91x
Chester St Oswald 11 8.64x
Chipping Sodbury 11 94.50x
Ramsgate 11 6.20x
Birkenhead 10 1.78x
Chard 10 16.10x
Ealing 10 3.51x
Hulme 10 1.27x
Sandhurst 10 21.60x
Sherington 10 151.98x
Trowbridge 10 8.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 205
Elizabeth 121
Sarah 108
Alice 62
Eliza 62
Emma 61
Jane 59
Emily 58
Ann 54
Annie 54
Ellen 52
Martha 34
Louisa 33
Hannah 32
Harriet 29
Margaret 29
Kate 27
Fanny 25
Florence 25
Edith 23
Caroline 20
Maria 20
Agnes 19
Susan 18
Charlotte 16
Clara 16
Rose 15
Ada 14
Frances 13
Minnie 13
Anne 12
Harriett 11
Catherine 10
Amelia 9
Lucy 9
Laura 8
Ruth 8
Beatrice 7
Bessie 7
Jessie 7
Lydia 7
Rebecca 7
Amy 6
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Julia 6
Mabel 6
Georgina 5
Gertrude 5
Matilda 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 188
John 164
George 127
Thomas 102
Henry 96
James 89
Charles 80
Joseph 61
Samuel 45
Arthur 40
Alfred 38
Albert 37
Walter 33
Edward 32
Harry 27
Richard 26
Robert 26
Frederick 25
Herbert 22
Ernest 15
Frank 12
Edwin 11
Daniel 9
Benjamin 8
David 8
Isaac 8
Stephen 8
Edmund 7
Elijah 7
Francis 7
Wm. 7
Fred 5
Sydney 5
Thos. 5
Willm. 5
Abraham 4
Edgar 4
Job 4
Jonathan 4
Josiah 4
Matthew 4
Eli 3
Horace 3
Mark 3
Michael 3
Saml. 3
Samson 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
Philip 2

FAQ

Bowyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bowyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,265 people were recorded with the Bowyer surname. That placed it at #1,383 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bowyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,521 in 2016. That gives Bowyer a modern rank of #1,497.

What does the Bowyer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of bows, an archer, or a hunter using a bow.

What does the Bowyer map show?

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