NameCensus.

UK surname

Cowlan

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Cowlan surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cowlan is 100 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

1998

100 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Cowlan had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cowlan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cowlan surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cowlan 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 90 #31,621
2011 modern 80 #32,652
2012 modern 80 #32,877
2013 modern 80 #33,058
2014 modern 83 #32,910
2015 modern 83 #32,847
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

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Where Cowlans 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 Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, Teignbridge, Brentwood and North Kesteven. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 008 Peterborough
2 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
3 Teignbridge 002 Teignbridge
4 Brentwood 009 Brentwood
5 North Kesteven 012 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cowlan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cowlan

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cowlan 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

Cowlan is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Cowlan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cowlan 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Cowlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 3.59x
Cambridgeshire 9 24.28x
Surrey 7 2.46x
Sussex 5 5.07x
Derbyshire 3 3.27x
Lancashire 3 0.43x
Leicestershire 3 4.62x
Bedfordshire 2 6.60x
Cornwall 2 3.02x
Northamptonshire 2 3.63x
Lanarkshire 1 0.53x
Norfolk 1 1.11x
Yorkshire 1 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. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 14 Cowlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.72x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 14 29.72x
Upwell 9 3333.33x
Camberwell 6 16.05x
Hornsey 5 67.57x
Rye 5 531.91x
Ilkestonderbypart 3 1111.11x
Leicester St Margaret 3 18.96x
Bedford St Peter 2 253.16x
Liverpool 2 4.74x
Paston 2 869.57x
St Mary Magdalene 2 408.16x
Barony 1 2.09x
Broughton In Salford 1 15.75x
Hilgay 1 294.12x
Mile End Old Town London 1 8.03x
Sculcoates 1 10.88x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 8.50x
St Clement Danes London 1 82.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 4
Frederick 3
Henry 2
Augst. 1
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
James 1
John 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Silvester 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Cowlan households.

FAQ

Cowlan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cowlan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Cowlan surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cowlan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Cowlan a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Cowlan map show?

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