UK surname
An Americanized variant of the German surname Klauszer, meaning 'bell founder' or 'locksmith'.
In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Clowser surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #21,334 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Winchester St Thomas and Carshalton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clowser is 107 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.1%.
1881 census count
87
Ranked #21,334
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1911
107 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clowser surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clowser surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 87 | #21,334 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 107 | #21,842 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 61 | #33,440 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Winchester St Thomas, Carshalton, Brighton and St John Hampstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Winchester St Thomas | Hampshire |
| 3 | Carshalton | Surrey |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | St John Hampstead | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clowser surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clowser, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Clowser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clowser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Clowser is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clowser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clowser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CLOWSER has its origins in England, first appearing in historical records during the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "clawsian," which means "to scratch or claw." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who had a particular occupation or characteristic related to scratching or clawing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CLOWSER can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John Clawser. The variant spelling "Clawser" provides insight into the name's evolution over time. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279 include a reference to a Richard Clousere, further demonstrating the surname's early presence in medieval England.
In the 14th century, the name CLOWSER appeared in various forms in various regions of England. For instance, the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1316 record a Thomas Clawser, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1327 mention a John Clousere. These historical references highlight the surname's geographic spread across different counties during this period.
One notable individual bearing the CLOWSER surname was Sir Thomas Clowser, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 15th century. Born around 1450, he was known for his involvement in local affairs and served as a member of the county's gentry class.
Another historically significant figure with the CLOWSER name was William Clowser, a merchant and alderman of the city of London in the early 16th century. Records indicate that he was born in 1492 and played an active role in the city's governance and trade affairs during his lifetime.
In the 17th century, the CLOWSER surname appeared in various parish records and legal documents across England. One such example is John Clowser, who was born in Shropshire in 1623 and served as a local magistrate in his later years.
It is worth noting that the CLOWSER surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Clowser Hill in Gloucestershire and Clowser Farm in Warwickshire. These place names may have influenced the surname's development or vice versa, reflecting the intimate connection between surnames and geographic locations in historical times.
While the surname CLOWSER is not as common today as it once was, its presence in historical records and its evolution over centuries provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of English naming traditions and their enduring impact on modern-day surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clowser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 44 Clowsers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.64x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 16 Clowsers recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 16 | 55.42x |
| Carshalton | 11 | 696.20x |
| Streatham | 11 | 174.60x |
| Clapham | 8 | 75.40x |
| Hendon | 6 | 196.72x |
| Warlingham | 6 | 1764.71x |
| Epsom | 5 | 247.52x |
| Hampstead London | 4 | 30.26x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 4 | 325.20x |
| Islington London | 3 | 3.65x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.93x |
| Beddington | 1 | 62.50x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.71x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.99x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.36x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 22.32x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.72x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 24.04x |
| St Martin In Fields | 1 | 19.69x |
| Swanscombe | 1 | 76.92x |
| Undermilbeck | 1 | 163.93x |
| Willesden | 1 | 12.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clowser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clowser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Clowser households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Carpenter | 4 |
| Dress Maker | 3 |
| French Polisher | 3 |
| Laundrymaid | 3 |
| Coachsmith | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Grocers Assistant | 2 |
| Actor | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Builder (Employing 30 Men) | 1 |
| Builders Son | 1 |
| Cadet | 1 |
| Carriers Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Parlourmaid | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundress In Workhouse | 1 |
| Laundryman | 1 |
| Lime Burner | 1 |
| Manager City Club (Employing 1 Man & 1 Boy) | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Office Lad | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Schoolmaster | 1 |
| Serv (Domes) | 1 |
| Sick Nurse | 1 |
| Sign Writer | 1 |
| Sign Writer Wife | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tassell Maker (Trimg) | 1 |
| Tin Plate Worker | 1 |
| Under Housemaid | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Clowser surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Clowser a modern rank of #33,948.
An Americanized variant of the German surname Klauszer, meaning 'bell founder' or 'locksmith'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clowser bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.