NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowey

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cow pasture or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 254 people recorded with the Cowey surname, ranking it #10,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 408, ranked #11,711, down from #10,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Easington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, County Durham and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowey is 463 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.6%.

1881 census count

254

Ranked #10,949

Modern count

408

2016, ranked #11,711

Peak year

1998

463 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cowey had 254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016, ranked #11,711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 430 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Cowey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cowey 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 231 #9,334
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 254 #10,949
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 415 #9,236
1911 historical 430 #8,804
1997 modern 461 #9,886
1998 modern 463 #10,192
1999 modern 462 #10,249
2000 modern 453 #10,371
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 414 #10,980
2004 modern 417 #10,943
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 419 #10,837
2007 modern 421 #10,920
2008 modern 426 #10,911
2009 modern 438 #10,927
2010 modern 447 #10,966
2011 modern 448 #10,829
2012 modern 426 #11,139
2013 modern 432 #11,210
2014 modern 422 #11,516
2015 modern 410 #11,686
2016 modern 408 #11,711

Geography

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Where Coweys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Easington, Tynemouth and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, County Durham, Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Easington Durham
4 Tynemouth Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
2 County Durham 043 County Durham
3 Gateshead 016 Gateshead
4 Sunderland 022 Sunderland
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 012 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cowey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cowey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cowey, 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 Cowey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cowey 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cowey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cowey is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cowey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cowey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cowey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cowey

The surname Cowey originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cu" meaning cow, and "ey" meaning an island or dry land surrounded by marshes or streams. This suggests that the name may have been initially attributed to someone who lived on a piece of dry land where cattle were grazed.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name Cowey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a Richard Cowey as a landowner in the county. The Cowey family was prominent in the area around Ely, Cambridgeshire, during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, records show a John Cowey born in Ely around 1520, who was a prominent merchant and landowner. His son, Thomas Cowey (1560-1638), was a successful businessman and served as a magistrate in Ely.

Another notable figure with the surname Cowey was William Cowey (1679-1745), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry from Cambridgeshire. He was influential in local politics and served as a justice of the peace.

In the 19th century, a prominent Cowey was Sir Arthur Cowey (1836-1908), a successful industrialist and businessman from Yorkshire. He founded the Cowey Engineering Company, which manufactured mining equipment, and was knighted for his contributions to industry.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir John Cowey (1901-1985) was a British diplomat who served as the ambassador to several countries, including Brazil and Italy. He was knighted for his services to the Foreign Office.

While the surname Cowey is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with connections to prominent families and individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cowey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowey 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 154 Coweys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.89x.

County Total Index
Durham 154 20.89x
Northumberland 29 7.87x
Yorkshire 26 1.06x
Middlesex 14 0.57x
Essex 8 1.64x
Kent 7 0.83x
Hampshire 5 0.98x
Suffolk 3 0.99x
Devon 2 0.39x
Surrey 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.54x
Midlothian 1 0.30x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haswell in Durham leads with 30 Coweys recorded in 1881 and an index of 568.18x.

Place Total Index
Haswell 30 568.18x
Tunstall 23 626.70x
Hetton Le Hole 20 214.13x
Monkwearmouth 12 169.97x
Tynemouth 11 55.72x
Ryhope 9 175.78x
Drypool 8 212.77x
Whitby 8 96.74x
Gateshead 7 12.68x
Greenwich 7 17.75x
Prudhoe Castle 7 972.22x
Tudhoe 7 108.53x
Wingate 7 138.61x
Chirton 6 71.94x
Seaham 6 223.05x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 5 609.76x
Islington London 5 2.08x
Leigh 5 294.12x
Bishopwearmouth 4 6.32x
Cornforth 4 184.33x
Esh 4 74.63x
Preston In Tynemouth 4 275.86x
West Rainton 4 175.44x
Pittington 3 144.93x
Portsea 3 3.01x
South Shields 3 45.66x
St Marylebone London 3 2.27x
Chelmsford 2 23.84x
Dawdon 2 22.05x
Holy Trinity 2 3.39x
Ipswich St Clement 2 26.08x
Southcoates 2 14.67x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.58x
St Giles 2 43.48x
Westoe 2 4.79x
Whitechapel London 2 8.19x
Brandon Byshottles 1 10.83x
Burton Extra 1 20.83x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.71x
Coundon 1 33.44x
Farnborough 1 18.76x
Hampstead London 1 2.59x
Hastings St Leonards 1 16.29x
Hexham 1 17.51x
Ipswich St Stephen 1 192.31x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.45x
New Windsor 1 16.00x
North Leith 1 6.51x
Penshaw 1 45.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.52x
Portsmouth 1 8.55x
Sculcoates 1 2.57x
Silksworth 1 294.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.01x
Sunderland 1 7.68x
Tawstock 1 108.70x
West Ham 1 0.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Margaret 12
Hannah 8
Jane 8
Ann 6
Elizabeth 5
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Catherine 4
Ellen 4
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Henzell 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catharine 1
Dorcass 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elaner 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Isa. 1
Josephine 1
Marg. 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1
Margt.Jane 1
Phillis 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Tamsey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 14
George 13
Thomas 9
James 8
Nicholas 8
Robert 8
Christopher 7
Joseph 5
Edward 4
Job 3
Ralph 3
Charles 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Matthew 1
Obadiah 1
Richard 1
Robinson 1
Robt. 1
Robt.T. 1
Step. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Cowey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 254 people were recorded with the Cowey surname. That placed it at #10,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016. That gives Cowey a modern rank of #11,711.

What does the Cowey surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cow pasture or meadow.

What does the Cowey map show?

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