NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowin

An English locational surname derived from the place name Cowan or Cowen.

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Cowin surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, up from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Stephen, Toxteth Park and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Eden and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowin is 497 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.5%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

2000

497 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cowin had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 367 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cowin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cowin 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 274 #8,176
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 307 #11,472
1911 historical 367 #9,914
1997 modern 481 #9,584
1998 modern 489 #9,760
1999 modern 485 #9,900
2000 modern 497 #9,675
2001 modern 492 #9,592
2002 modern 485 #9,846
2003 modern 460 #10,091
2004 modern 463 #10,074
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 445 #10,428
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 454 #10,590
2010 modern 457 #10,770
2011 modern 445 #10,880
2012 modern 430 #11,065
2013 modern 442 #10,997
2014 modern 435 #11,224
2015 modern 423 #11,392
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Cowins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Stephen, Toxteth Park, Eccles, West Derby and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Eden and Wirral. 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 Kirkby Stephen Westmorland
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
2 Eden 007 Eden
3 Eden 006 Eden
4 Wirral 037 Wirral
5 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cowin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cowin

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Cowin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cowin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Cowin 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

Cowin 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

Cowin falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cowin

The surname COWIN is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from an Old English word, "cu," meaning cow, and "hine," referring to a herder or keeper. Therefore, the name COWIN was initially an occupational surname given to those who tended cattle or worked as cowherd.

Records from the 14th century indicate that the name was initially spelled in various ways, such as Cowhyn, Cowhine, and Cowherd, before the modern spelling of COWIN became more standardized. The earliest known reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which mentions a John le Cowhine.

In the 15th century, the COWIN surname appeared in several historical documents, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1438, which recorded a Thomas Cowyn. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1472 also listed a William Cowyn, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the COWIN surname was John Cowin (c. 1550-1611), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Stanwell, Middlesex. Another notable figure was Sir John Cowin (1614-1672), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the COWIN name was found in various places, including the parish records of St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, which mention a marriage between John Cowin and Mary Aldred in 1665. The name was also present in the records of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where a William Cowin was born in 1670.

During the 18th century, the COWIN surname continued to appear in various regions of England. One notable figure was Samuel Cowin (1732-1808), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Meldreth, Cambridgeshire, and published several religious works.

Another individual of note was John Cowin (1776-1847), a British-born explorer and trader who travelled extensively in North America and was one of the earliest settlers in what is now known as British Columbia, Canada. He established a trading post along the Fraser River and played a significant role in the early fur trade in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cowin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowin 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. Isle of Man leads with 418 Cowins recorded in 1881 and an index of 383.31x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 418 383.31x
Lancashire 62 0.89x
Westmorland 28 21.70x
Cumberland 25 4.94x
Yorkshire 20 0.34x
Cheshire 11 0.85x
Warwickshire 7 0.47x
Devon 5 0.41x
Lincolnshire 5 0.53x
Surrey 5 0.17x
Kent 4 0.20x
Middlesex 4 0.07x
Northumberland 4 0.46x
Durham 2 0.11x
Essex 2 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 197 Cowins recorded in 1881 and an index of 627.19x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 197 627.19x
Lonan 75 1134.64x
Marown 26 1306.53x
Braddan 25 419.46x
Toxteth Park 20 8.48x
St Anne 18 1538.46x
Dalton In Furness 14 52.04x
German Peel 13 207.01x
Malew 12 125.92x
Maughold 11 130.80x
Patrick 10 188.32x
Andreas 9 304.05x
German 8 134.45x
Birmingham 7 1.42x
Newby 7 1428.57x
Arlecdon 6 44.61x
Hutton Roof 6 1764.71x
Lezayre 6 122.70x
Little Meolse 6 324.32x
Liverpool 6 1.42x
Lupton 6 1363.64x
Battersea 5 2.31x
Kaber 5 1250.00x
Kirkdale 5 4.27x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 5 37.85x
Thornton In Lonsdale 5 781.25x
Bradford 4 2.84x
Bride 4 268.46x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 3.38x
Egremont 4 33.20x
Manchester 4 1.28x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.68x
Upton By Birkenhead 4 320.00x
Wavertree 4 17.94x
Appleby St Lawrence 3 102.04x
Stanwix 3 73.35x
West Derby 3 1.47x
Ballaugh 2 102.56x
Clifton 2 253.16x
Douglas 2 126.58x
Hensingham 2 48.43x
Holbeck 2 5.19x
Low Leyton 2 192.31x
New Romney 2 97.09x
North Shields 2 11.47x
Salford 2 0.98x
Sedgefield 2 32.10x
Tonbridge 2 2.77x
Wallsend 2 7.22x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 5.03x
Blackrod 1 11.55x
Bromfield 1 131.58x
Devonport 1 7.12x
Drigg Carleton 1 87.72x
Dukinfield 1 1.67x
Ealing 1 1.91x
Gosforth 1 40.65x
Kensington London 1 0.31x
Kirkby Lonsdale 1 28.65x
Little Blencow 1 833.33x
Lowther 1 106.38x
Manningham 1 1.39x
Newbiggin 1 357.14x
Potter Newton 1 9.74x
Pudsey 1 3.22x
Ravenstonedale 1 55.56x
Shap 1 35.09x
Sowerby In Halifax 1 5.25x
St Katherine Coleman 1 178.57x
St Marylebone London 1 0.32x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 4.99x
Ulverston 1 4.93x
Walton On Hill 1 2.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 28
Margaret 27
Jane 22
Mary 21
Ann 18
Ellen 12
Catherine 11
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Sarah 10
Isabella 9
Eleanor 7
Edith 6
Cathrine 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Florence 5
Alice 3
Barbara 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Helena 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Catharine 2
Cathe. 2
Cathrin 2
Charlotte 2
Elenor 2
Eliz. 2
Francis 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Rachel 2
Tamar 2
Bella 1
Blanche 1
Easter 1
Elen 1
Elinor 1
Henrietta 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 52
Thomas 32
Robert 28
James 17
Joseph 16
Henry 8
Edward 7
George 7
Alfred 6
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Frederick 4
Thos. 4
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Bertie 1
Caesar 1
Charles 1
Charls 1
Danl. 1
David 1
Edwart 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo.F.J. 1
Georg 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jarvis 1
Jas. 1
Kate 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Little 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Montague 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Orry 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Standley 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Cowin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Cowin surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Cowin a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Cowin surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the place name Cowan or Cowen.

What does the Cowin map show?

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