NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowieson

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Cowieson surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldmachar East, Montrose South and Carrick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowieson is 112 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

87

2016, ranked #32,476

Peak year

2008

112 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Cowieson had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016, ranked #32,476.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Cowieson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowieson surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cowieson 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 59 #22,756
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 91 #23,921
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 87 #32,472
2014 modern 83 #32,910
2015 modern 85 #32,693
2016 modern 87 #32,476

Geography

Back to top

Where Cowiesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldmachar East, Montrose South, Carrick South, Newmachar and Fintray and Ellon West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldmachar East Aberdeen City
2 Montrose South Angus
3 Carrick South South Ayrshire
4 Newmachar and Fintray Aberdeenshire
5 Ellon West Aberdeenshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cowieson

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cowieson

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Cowieson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cowieson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cowieson 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

Cowieson 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

Cowieson 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 Cowieson 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 Cowieson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cowieson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowieson 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 22 Cowiesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.47x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 22 32.47x
Angus 20 29.51x
Midlothian 6 6.12x
Ayrshire 5 9.13x
Banffshire 5 32.96x
Kincardineshire 5 56.12x
Yorkshire 5 0.69x
Lanarkshire 4 1.69x
Herefordshire 1 3.33x
Perthshire 1 3.05x
Roxburghshire 1 7.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Vigeans in Angus leads with 10 Cowiesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 273.22x.

Place Total Index
St Vigeans 10 273.22x
Brechin 9 338.35x
Cairney 8 2051.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 15.22x
Fettercairn 5 1315.79x
St Quivox 5 270.27x
Thurnscoe 5 8333.33x
Banff 4 303.03x
Ellon 4 430.11x
King Edward 4 512.82x
Barony 3 5.01x
Fyvie 3 270.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 7.07x
Ednam 1 666.67x
Gamrie 1 59.17x
Govan 1 1.71x
Hope Mansell 1 2000.00x
Kinnoull 1 116.28x
Methlick 1 185.19x
Montrose 1 24.33x
Newhills 1 71.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Margaret 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Cowieson households.

FAQ

Cowieson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowieson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Cowieson surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowieson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Cowieson a modern rank of #32,476.

What does the Cowieson map show?

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