NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowie

A Scottish surname derived from the Scots word "cou" meaning "cow".

In the 1881 census there were 3,649 people recorded with the Cowie surname, ranking it #1,244 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,795, ranked #1,157, up from #1,244 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Rathven and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East and Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowie is 6,094 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

3,649

Ranked #1,244

Modern count

5,795

2016, ranked #1,157

Peak year

2010

6,094 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cowie had 3,649 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,244 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,795 in 2016, ranked #1,157.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,738 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cowie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cowie 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 2,356 #1,265
1861 historical 2,555 #1,147
1881 historical 3,649 #1,244
1891 historical 3,987 #1,202
1901 historical 4,738 #1,193
1911 historical 1,189 #3,949
1997 modern 5,811 #1,131
1998 modern 6,073 #1,122
1999 modern 6,048 #1,130
2000 modern 5,984 #1,134
2001 modern 5,859 #1,134
2002 modern 6,038 #1,128
2003 modern 5,834 #1,138
2004 modern 5,859 #1,131
2005 modern 5,877 #1,106
2006 modern 5,855 #1,115
2007 modern 5,898 #1,117
2008 modern 5,921 #1,122
2009 modern 5,990 #1,131
2010 modern 6,094 #1,135
2011 modern 5,959 #1,143
2012 modern 5,698 #1,166
2013 modern 5,764 #1,170
2014 modern 5,837 #1,166
2015 modern 5,794 #1,164
2016 modern 5,795 #1,157

Geography

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Where Cowies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Rathven, Glasgow, Boyndie and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Sutherland East and Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Rathven Banff
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Boyndie Banff
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Buckie West and Mains of Buckie Moray
2 Buckie Central East Moray
3 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
4 Sutherland East Highland
5 Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cowie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cowie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cowie, 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

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cowie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cowie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cowie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cowie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cowie falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cowie

The surname Cowie is of Scottish origin and is thought to have originated in the late 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "cuith," which means "small portion" or "little part." It is speculated that the name may have been given to someone who lived on or owned a small parcel of land.

Cowie is a locational surname, meaning it initially referred to someone who lived in or near the place called Cowie, which is located in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The earliest recorded instance of this place name dates back to around 1200, when it was written as "Cowey" in the Registrum Monasterii de Cambuskenneth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cowie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1456, where it is written as "Cowy." This document mentions a person named John Cowy, who was a tenant in the village of Cowie.

Another early record of the name appears in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1512, where it is spelled "Cowy." This entry refers to a William Cowy, who was granted land in the county of Stirlingshire.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Cowie was Sir John Cowie, who was a Scottish merchant and diplomat. He was born in Edinburgh in 1522 and served as the ambassador to Denmark and Sweden for King James VI of Scotland.

During the 17th century, a notable person with the surname Cowie was James Cowie, a Scottish minister and philosopher. He was born in Aberdeen in 1637 and served as a professor of philosophy at the University of St. Andrews.

In the 18th century, a renowned individual with the surname Cowie was Robert Cowie, a Scottish artist and engraver. He was born in Stirlingshire in 1742 and is known for his intricate engravings of Scottish landscapes and architecture.

Another notable person with the surname Cowie was William Cowie, a Scottish engineer and inventor. He was born in Ayrshire in 1822 and is credited with several innovations in the field of steam engine design.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Cowie was James Cowie, a Scottish artist and illustrator. He was born in Aberdeen in 1856 and is renowned for his illustrations in various literary works, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cowie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowie 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 848 Cowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.83x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 848 25.83x
Banffshire 691 93.97x
Lanarkshire 397 3.46x
Angus 218 6.64x
Midlothian 167 3.52x
Stirlingshire 117 8.95x
Middlesex 109 0.31x
Kincardineshire 85 19.69x
Morayshire 75 13.62x
Durham 71 0.67x
Lancashire 70 0.17x
Suffolk 65 1.51x
Yorkshire 62 0.18x
Kent 59 0.49x
Surrey 57 0.33x
Fife 56 2.67x
Ayrshire 55 2.07x
Dunbartonshire 38 3.99x
Shetland 38 10.50x
Sutherland 34 12.47x
Clackmannanshire 30 10.25x
Inverness-shire 29 2.74x
West Lothian 27 5.06x
Northumberland 24 0.46x
Renfrewshire 24 0.87x
Perthshire 22 1.38x
East Lothian 17 3.62x
Cheshire 15 0.19x
Cumberland 15 0.49x
Berkshire 12 0.45x
Argyllshire 11 1.11x
Devon 9 0.12x
Essex 9 0.13x
Selkirkshire 8 2.49x
Wigtownshire 8 1.70x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.27x
Hampshire 6 0.08x
Warwickshire 6 0.07x
Buteshire 5 2.33x
Dumfriesshire 5 0.64x
Westmorland 5 0.64x
Sussex 4 0.07x
Berwickshire 3 0.70x
Hertfordshire 3 0.12x
Dorset 2 0.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Gloucestershire 1 0.01x
Nairnshire 1 0.92x
Orkney 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 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. Rathven in Banffshire leads with 484 Cowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 350.39x.

Place Total Index
Rathven 484 350.39x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 142 23.12x
Aberdeen Old Machar 124 18.09x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 108 5.65x
Peterhead 97 55.87x
Barony 81 2.79x
Glasgow 68 3.34x
New Monkland 59 17.41x
Govan 52 1.83x
Dundee 50 4.08x
Turriff 45 84.92x
Auchterless 38 145.82x
Huntly 38 71.13x
Dalziel 36 29.19x
Lerwick Gulberwick 35 62.46x
Ordiquhill 35 402.30x
Newhills 34 50.57x
Liff Benvie 32 6.42x
Cumbernauld 31 59.39x
Marnoch 31 78.50x
Banff 30 46.98x
Falkirk 29 9.48x
Keith 28 35.72x
Larbert 28 35.82x
Montrose 28 14.07x
Ellon 27 59.80x
Fetteresso 27 39.91x
Alloa 26 18.31x
King Edward 26 68.71x
St Ninians 26 20.06x
St Vigeans 26 14.67x
Nacton 24 383.39x
Drainie 22 45.09x
Gamrie 22 26.80x
Fyvie 21 39.20x
Dysart 20 14.15x
Old Monkland 20 4.40x
Ferry Port On Craig 19 55.04x
Kensington London 19 0.96x
Forfar 18 10.12x
Fintray 17 135.67x
Fordyce 17 32.13x
Kilwinning 17 19.84x
South Leith 17 3.18x
Inverness 16 6.01x
New Deer 16 26.92x
Cambusnethan 15 5.89x
Eddrachillis 14 75.59x
Kildonan 14 59.32x
Kingston On Thames 14 3.37x
Monquhitter 14 41.19x
Pitsligo 14 44.61x
Shotts 14 10.20x
Cathcart 13 8.75x
Elgin 13 12.13x
Foveran 13 52.31x
Lonmay 13 43.62x
Middlesbrough 13 2.84x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 3.59x
Brechin 12 9.30x
Culsalmond 12 118.81x
Duffus 12 24.72x
Fraserburgh 12 12.98x
Old Deer 12 19.29x
Plumstead 12 2.98x
Westoe 12 2.01x
Glenmuick Tullich 11 46.49x
Greenwich 11 1.95x
Hamilton 11 3.44x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 2.41x
Islington London 11 0.32x
Stirling 11 6.67x
Trimley St Martin 11 148.45x
Banchory Devenick 10 24.80x
Boness 10 13.59x
Boyndie 10 41.07x
Cruden 10 23.65x
Forres 10 17.27x
Mile End Old Town London 10 1.33x
Tarves 10 32.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 25
Jane 19
Sarah 13
Annie 11
Margaret 11
Ann 10
Charlotte 10
Ellen 10
Isabella 9
Emily 8
Alice 7
Edith 6
Agnes 4
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Isabel 4
Maria 4
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Jemima 3
Mabel 3
Margt. 3
Marion 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Christina 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Elsie 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Juliet 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Phillis 2
Rachael 2
Sidney 2
Willimine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 34
James 29
George 26
Charles 12
Alexander 10
Robert 9
Thomas 9
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Henry 7
Hugh 6
Arthur 4
Daniel 4
David 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Peter 4
Albert 3
Andrew 3
Archibald 3
Chas. 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Nicholas 3
Adam 2
Benjamin 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Alexr. 1
Augustus 1
Bengaham 1
Burton 1
Dixon 1
Donald 1
Edwd. 1
Forbes 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Frederich 1
Geo. 1
Hercules 1
Ishmael 1
Jacob 1
Jonathen 1
Kewley 1
Luke 1
Marcus 1
Martin 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cowie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,649 people were recorded with the Cowie surname. That placed it at #1,244 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,795 in 2016. That gives Cowie a modern rank of #1,157.

What does the Cowie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Scots word "cou" meaning "cow".

What does the Cowie map show?

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