UK surname
A variant spelling of "Cowl", referring to a maker of monastic cowls or hoods.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Cowel surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Great and Little Bardfield and Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowel is 234 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.9%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1851
234 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cowel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cowel surname density by area, 1851 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 | 234 | #9,241 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 38 | #31,330 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Great and Little Bardfield, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), St Leonard Shoreditch and Long Benton. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Great and Little Bardfield | Essex |
| 3 | Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) | Durham |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cowel 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 Cowel, 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 Cowel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cowel 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, Cowel 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 Cowel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cowel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cowel originates from the British Isles, particularly England, and its history can be traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from various place names notably found within regions like Cornwall and Devon. The name is believed to have roots in the Old English words "col" meaning cool or cold and "wella" meaning a spring or stream, indicating that it may have been used to describe people who lived near a cold spring or stream.
One of the earliest references to the surname appears in ancient records such as the Domesday Book, commissioned in 1086 by William the Conqueror. In this comprehensive survey, variations of the name such as Colwelle or Colwell were recorded, showing the early usage and distribution of the name across England. Historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries also make mention of similar spellings like Cowell and Colwall, evidencing the evolution of the name over time.
An early recorded instance of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1191, where a Richard de Colwelle is documented. Another significant bearer of the name is William Cowell, who lived during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272) and was mentioned in several medieval manuscripts. The 14th century saw Thomas Cowell, recorded in the subsidy rolls of 1327 for the county of Worcestershire.
Important historical figures with this surname include John Cowell (1554-1611), an English jurist and master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, whose contributions to legal scholarship were substantial. His work, "The Interpreter," published in 1607, detailed legal terms and contributed to the standardized understanding of the common law.
In the realm of ecclesiastical history, Robert Cowel appears as a notable bearer of the name. He was recorded as serving the parish of St. Mary's Church in Dover in the late 16th century, around the time of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement which aimed to solidify the Church of England's structure.
The 18th century features another prominent individual, Sir Charles Cowell, born in 1724 and made notable for his services to the Crown. He played a significant role in local governance and philanthropy, influencing various social reforms.
Considering the etymological history and distribution across medieval England, it is clear that the surname Cowel has held significance and been borne by individuals contributing to various facets of British society over the centuries. The name evolved through multiple regions and forms, maintaining its presence well into historical records.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowel 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. Lancashire leads with 36 Cowels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 36 | 3.05x |
| Durham | 11 | 3.72x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.01x |
| Essex | 8 | 4.07x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.71x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 3.27x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.18x |
| Angus | 3 | 3.26x |
| Banffshire | 3 | 14.54x |
| Isle of Man | 3 | 16.24x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 3.88x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.78x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.97x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 1.81x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.66x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.17x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.21x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lower Darwen in Lancashire leads with 8 Cowels recorded in 1881 and an index of 516.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Darwen | 8 | 516.13x |
| Chipping Ongar | 7 | 2058.82x |
| Rishton | 7 | 507.25x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 6 | 161.73x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 13.91x |
| Blackburn | 5 | 15.92x |
| Wymondham | 5 | 320.51x |
| Dundee | 3 | 8.72x |
| Poulton Le Fylde | 3 | 714.29x |
| Preston | 3 | 9.50x |
| St Fergus | 3 | 576.92x |
| Ampleforth Birdforth | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Bournmoor | 2 | 434.78x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.59x |
| Landulph | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 7.43x |
| Livesey | 2 | 96.62x |
| Pluckley | 2 | 645.16x |
| Ridgmont | 2 | 800.00x |
| Braintree | 1 | 56.82x |
| Calverton | 1 | 526.32x |
| Catton | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Chester Le Street | 1 | 44.05x |
| Darlington | 1 | 8.75x |
| Durrington | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Edmondsley | 1 | 312.50x |
| German | 1 | 99.01x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 6.50x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.81x |
| Kingskerswell | 1 | 294.12x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 5.04x |
| Kirkham | 1 | 64.10x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.15x |
| Lezayre | 1 | 120.48x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.39x |
| Nether Silton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| North Tawton | 1 | 156.25x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.73x |
| Rushen | 1 | 80.00x |
| Salford | 1 | 2.88x |
| Scruton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Seacroft | 1 | 212.77x |
| Sevenoaks | 1 | 36.36x |
| Stansted | 1 | 714.29x |
| Stretford | 1 | 15.41x |
| Thornton In Fylde | 1 | 38.76x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.90x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 21.93x |
| Wigan | 1 | 6.06x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cowel 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 Cowel 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 Cowel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 17 |
| Cotton Weaver | 9 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Fisherman | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agl Labr | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer Wife | 1 |
| Coal Mine Overman | 1 |
| Cotton Warper | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Crape Weaver | 1 |
| Dom Genl Servt | 1 |
| Domestic Ser | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Formerly Mariner | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Genl Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| House Maid Domestic | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Late Coal Miner | 1 |
| Machine Labourer (E & M) | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Maid Dom | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Railway Engine Cleaner | 1 |
| Retired Builder | 1 |
| Retired Coal Miner | 1 |
| Retired Potatoe Salesman | 1 |
| Saleswoman | 1 |
| Serv (D) | 1 |
| Silk Finisher | 1 |
| Trimmer | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
| Wholesale Grindery Dealer Porter | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wood Turner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Cowel surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Cowel a modern rank of #38,110.
A variant spelling of "Cowl", referring to a maker of monastic cowls or hoods.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cowel 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.