NameCensus.

UK surname

Chown

An occupational surname derived from the word "chownere" meaning funnel maker or tundish operator.

In the 1881 census there were 930 people recorded with the Chown surname, ranking it #4,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,090, ranked #5,370, down from #4,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Cornwall and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chown is 1,339 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

930

Ranked #4,134

Modern count

1,090

2016, ranked #5,370

Peak year

1911

1,339 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chown had 930 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,090 in 2016, ranked #5,370.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,339 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chown surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chown 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 618 #4,180
1861 historical 578 #4,564
1881 historical 930 #4,134
1891 historical 1,024 #4,071
1901 historical 1,157 #4,217
1911 historical 1,339 #3,572
1997 modern 1,112 #5,024
1998 modern 1,192 #4,915
1999 modern 1,206 #4,911
2000 modern 1,178 #4,986
2001 modern 1,171 #4,920
2002 modern 1,187 #4,945
2003 modern 1,134 #5,051
2004 modern 1,122 #5,097
2005 modern 1,089 #5,168
2006 modern 1,085 #5,193
2007 modern 1,098 #5,195
2008 modern 1,089 #5,265
2009 modern 1,103 #5,308
2010 modern 1,132 #5,303
2011 modern 1,109 #5,334
2012 modern 1,056 #5,468
2013 modern 1,072 #5,496
2014 modern 1,075 #5,523
2015 modern 1,080 #5,433
2016 modern 1,090 #5,370

Geography

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Where Chowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Sydenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Cornwall, Plymouth and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Sydenham Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
2 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
3 Plymouth 029 Plymouth
4 East Devon 004 East Devon
5 Plymouth 014 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chown

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chown

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chown is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Chown is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chown falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chown

The surname Chown originated in England during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "ceowan" and "ceowen," which mean "to chew" or "to gnaw." It is believed that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone with a peculiar chewing or biting habit, or possibly to someone who worked as a miller or baker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1194, where a person named William Chewin is mentioned. The surname was also present in various other historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which mention a John Chewun.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name took on various spellings, including Chewen, Chewon, Chewine, and Chewyn, reflecting the regional dialects and the scribes' interpretations of the name. The spelling "Chown" seems to have emerged in the 16th century and gradually became the most common form.

One notable figure with the surname Chown was John Chown (c. 1545-1614), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He played a significant role in the wool trade between England and the Netherlands during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, William Chown (1632-1701) was a respected English clergyman and author, known for his work "The Danger of Heresies and Schisms" published in 1689.

Moving to the 18th century, Thomas Chown (1718-1792) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and its surrounding areas.

In the 19th century, Edward Chown (1824-1901) was a prominent Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the Canadian Pacific Railway and played a crucial role in the development of western Canada.

Another notable figure was Mary Chown (1867-1958), a British suffragette and activist who fought for women's rights and advocated for social reforms in the early 20th century.

While the surname Chown is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, architects, businessmen, and activists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chown families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chown 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. Devon leads with 276 Chowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.52x.

County Total Index
Devon 276 14.52x
Middlesex 143 1.57x
Surrey 89 2.00x
Oxfordshire 84 14.90x
Northamptonshire 73 8.50x
Somerset 32 2.18x
Buckinghamshire 24 4.35x
Hampshire 23 1.23x
Berkshire 20 2.92x
Leicestershire 20 1.98x
Sussex 14 0.91x
Wiltshire 14 1.73x
Glamorgan 13 0.82x
Yorkshire 13 0.14x
Lancashire 11 0.10x
Lincolnshire 9 0.62x
Warwickshire 9 0.39x
Staffordshire 8 0.26x
Derbyshire 7 0.49x
Dorset 7 1.17x
Gloucestershire 7 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.86x
Cornwall 5 0.48x
Suffolk 5 0.45x
Kent 4 0.13x
Channel Islands 3 1.11x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.03x
Royal Navy 3 2.76x
Durham 2 0.07x
Norfolk 2 0.14x
Worcestershire 2 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sydenham in Oxfordshire leads with 64 Chowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5765.77x.

Place Total Index
Sydenham 64 5765.77x
Chelsea London 33 11.99x
Plymouth St Andrew 25 17.08x
Lambeth 22 2.76x
Sidbury 22 540.54x
Lutterworth 16 259.32x
Moulton 16 334.73x
Plymouth Charles The 16 19.11x
Berwick St John 14 1166.67x
Camberwell 14 2.40x
Hackney London 14 2.73x
Kingsthorpe 14 146.75x
Battersea 13 3.87x
Keynsham 13 123.22x
St Pancras London 12 1.63x
Tiverton 12 36.65x
Honiton 11 104.56x
Norton 11 866.14x
Norton Fitzwarren 11 531.40x
Roath 11 15.23x
Templeton 11 2244.90x
Bermondsey 10 3.68x
Bow London 10 8.60x
Leominster 10 201.61x
Littleham 10 71.94x
Spreyton 10 833.33x
Colaton Raleigh 9 382.98x
Lympston 9 265.49x
St Botolph Lincoln 9 85.71x
St Marylebone London 9 1.85x
Clist Honiton 8 851.06x
Daventry 8 65.84x
Edmonton 8 10.87x
Fulham London 8 6.04x
Mapledurham 8 606.06x
Wandsworth 8 9.10x
Broad Clist 7 106.71x
Easthampstead 7 190.74x
Elton 7 276.68x
Feniton 7 630.63x
Kenn 7 236.49x
Kenton 7 116.86x
Kilmington 7 445.86x
Mile End Old Town London 7 3.60x
Taunton St James 7 32.66x
Buckerell 6 750.00x
Buckland Monachorum 6 147.78x
Datchet 6 158.73x
East Stonehouse 6 16.03x
Exminster 6 87.72x
Great Marlow 6 40.27x
New Alresford 6 123.71x
Normanton 6 49.71x
Openshaw 6 11.83x
Shoreditch London 6 1.52x
Tetsworth 6 447.76x
West Bromwich 6 3.40x
Wolborough 6 24.98x
Alverstoke 5 7.38x
Ashford 5 69.35x
Aston 5 0.79x
Binfield 5 95.06x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 43.63x
Exeter St Pancras 5 510.20x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 11.49x
Glemsford 5 64.02x
Heston 5 16.49x
Islington London 5 0.57x
Madron Penzance 5 13.30x
Newington 5 1.48x
Ottery St Mary 5 40.10x
Sudborough 5 561.80x
Weybridge 5 52.41x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.01x
Fotheringhay 4 571.43x
Halifax 4 3.01x
Hipperholme Cum 4 10.06x
Irthlingborough 4 47.51x
Richmond 4 6.42x
St John Winchester 4 101.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 48
Sarah 34
Alice 19
Ann 17
Ellen 16
Emily 11
Jane 11
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Susan 10
Emma 9
Louisa 9
Maria 9
Charlotte 8
Florence 8
Hannah 7
Fanny 6
Lucy 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Beatrice 5
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Matilda 5
Agnes 4
Anna 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Sophia 4
Susanna 4
Amy 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Elizab. 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Jessica 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Ruth 3
Adelaide 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Fanney 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 56
Thomas 32
George 25
Henry 24
James 22
Charles 17
Arthur 15
Joseph 15
Robert 12
Samuel 12
Harry 11
Richard 11
Alfred 10
Frederick 10
Walter 8
Herbert 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Albert 5
Edmund 4
Fredk. 4
David 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Abraham 2
Allen 2
Benjamin 2
Charley 2
Eli 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Owen 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Roland 2
Sydney 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Fred 1
Fredk.G 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Lawrence 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Chown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 930 people were recorded with the Chown surname. That placed it at #4,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,090 in 2016. That gives Chown a modern rank of #5,370.

What does the Chown surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the word "chownere" meaning funnel maker or tundish operator.

What does the Chown map show?

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