NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowham

An English locational surname derived from a place name, likely meaning "cow homestead" or "cow settlement".

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Cowham surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wrangle, Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Watford and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowham is 221 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1911

221 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cowham had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 221 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cowham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cowham 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 94 #17,837
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 200 #15,120
1911 historical 221 #14,044
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 169 #20,199
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 156 #22,351
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Cowhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wrangle, Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, London parishes, Algarkirk (incl. Algarkirk Allotments) and Leake. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Watford, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and Huntingdonshire. 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 Wrangle Lincolnshire
2 Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Algarkirk (incl. Algarkirk Allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Leake Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 034 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Watford 001 Watford
3 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
4 Suffolk Coastal 015 Suffolk Coastal
5 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cowham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cowham

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

Cowham is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cowham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cowham

The surname Cowham originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a habitational name derived from the village of Cowham, located in the county of Kent. This place name is thought to come from the Old English words "cu" meaning cow and "ham" meaning homestead or village, thus translating to "the village where cows were kept."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cowham can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Kent, a census-like record from 1273, where a Thomas de Couham is mentioned. The name also appears in various medieval tax records and legal documents from Kent and neighbouring counties, sometimes spelled as Coueham or Cowham.

In the 16th century, the Cowham family held land and property in the parish of Lenham, Kent. William Cowham, born in 1512, was a prominent landowner and is recorded in the parish registers of Lenham. His son, John Cowham (1542-1619), was a successful merchant and served as a church warden in Lenham.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Richard Cowham (1620-1687) from Kent fought on the Parliamentarian side. He later became a justice of the peace and served as a member of the local militia.

In the 18th century, the Cowham family had established themselves in various parts of England. Notable individuals include Thomas Cowham (1728-1795), a prosperous farmer from Buckinghamshire, and Elizabeth Cowham (1756-1832), a renowned midwife who practised in London.

In the 19th century, several members of the Cowham family emigrated to other parts of the British Empire, including Canada and Australia. One such individual was George Cowham (1812-1878), who settled in Ontario, Canada, and became a respected community leader.

Other notable bearers of the Cowham surname throughout history include John Cowham (1868-1951), a British physicist and inventor, and James Cowham (1901-1976), an English cricketer who played for the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

While the Cowham surname has its roots in the rural villages of Kent, it has since spread across England and beyond, with descendants contributing to various fields and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cowham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 72 Cowhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.20x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 72 34.20x
Yorkshire 38 2.91x
Surrey 12 1.87x
Middlesex 4 0.30x
Hampshire 3 1.11x
Derbyshire 1 0.49x
Glamorgan 1 0.44x
Gloucestershire 1 0.39x
Hertfordshire 1 1.10x
Northumberland 1 0.51x
Somerset 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Friskney in Lincolnshire leads with 12 Cowhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1791.04x.

Place Total Index
Friskney 12 1791.04x
Wainfleet All Sts 11 1803.28x
Louth 10 207.47x
Sculcoates 9 43.50x
Kimberworth 8 110.50x
Algarkirk 7 3043.48x
Leake 7 729.17x
Wandsworth 7 55.25x
Navenby 6 1395.35x
Sheffield 6 14.44x
Boston 4 62.60x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 15.07x
Stoke Newington London 4 38.99x
Nether Hallam 3 17.00x
Newington 3 6.17x
Pinchbeck 3 222.22x
Portsea 3 5.67x
Sutterton 3 714.29x
Ashby By Partney 2 3333.33x
Clifford Cum Boston 2 170.94x
Great Grimsby 2 14.97x
Skeffling 2 2857.14x
Brightside Bierlow 1 3.91x
Clee With Weelsby 1 21.69x
Clifton 1 7.66x
Drypool 1 50.00x
Ewell 1 74.07x
Holmpton 1 1000.00x
Hundleby 1 357.14x
Jesmond 1 36.23x
Layston 1 208.33x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 62.11x
Roath 1 9.61x
Southcoates 1 13.81x
Spilsby 1 149.25x
Stapenhill 1 32.57x
Streatham 1 10.24x
Taunton St Mary 1 25.71x
Wrangle 1 192.31x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 7
Joseph 6
George 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Walter 3
Ashlin 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Baby 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Enos 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Langton 1
Leslie 1
Oswald 1
Percival 1
Pire 1
Shepard 1
Shephard 1
Sidney 1
Tinsley 1
Walsham 1

FAQ

Cowham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Cowham surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Cowham a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Cowham surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name, likely meaning "cow homestead" or "cow settlement".

What does the Cowham map show?

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