NameCensus.

UK surname

Dowie

A habitational name from a place in Ireland, derived from Irish Gaelic dubh meaning "black".

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Dowie surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,164, ranked #5,074, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and St. Monance. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardenden, Markinch and Star and Maybole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dowie is 1,168 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.6%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

1,164

2016, ranked #5,074

Peak year

2014

1,168 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dowie had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,164 in 2016, ranked #5,074.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,075 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Dowie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dowie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dowie 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 605 #4,247
1861 historical 615 #4,330
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 909 #4,540
1901 historical 1,075 #4,494
1911 historical 266 #12,395
1997 modern 1,100 #5,065
1998 modern 1,136 #5,109
1999 modern 1,154 #5,096
2000 modern 1,119 #5,196
2001 modern 1,109 #5,133
2002 modern 1,157 #5,070
2003 modern 1,109 #5,143
2004 modern 1,108 #5,158
2005 modern 1,086 #5,177
2006 modern 1,086 #5,187
2007 modern 1,100 #5,188
2008 modern 1,097 #5,230
2009 modern 1,137 #5,178
2010 modern 1,165 #5,173
2011 modern 1,148 #5,187
2012 modern 1,115 #5,228
2013 modern 1,144 #5,199
2014 modern 1,168 #5,136
2015 modern 1,165 #5,098
2016 modern 1,164 #5,074

Geography

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Where Dowies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, St. Monance, Edinburgh and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardenden, Markinch and Star, Maybole, Glenrothes Macedonia and Tanshall and Birmingham. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 St. Monance Fife
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardenden Fife
2 Markinch and Star Fife
3 Maybole South Ayrshire
4 Glenrothes Macedonia and Tanshall Fife
5 Birmingham 071 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dowie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dowie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dowie, 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 Dowie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Dowie 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dowie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dowie is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dowie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dowie

The surname DOWIE has its origins in Scotland, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "dubh" meaning "black" or "dark", likely referring to a person's physical appearance or complexion.

One of the earliest known references to the name DOWIE can be found in the records of the Monastery of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland, from around the year 1200. This document mentions a person named "Doueny" or "Doueny of Perthic", which is thought to be an early spelling variation of the DOWIE name.

The DOWIE surname is closely associated with the Scottish Lowlands, particularly the areas around Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. In the 16th century, the name appeared in several parish records and land charters, with spellings such as "Dowe", "Dow", and "Dovy".

One notable historical figure with the DOWIE surname was John Dowie (1630-1703), a Scottish minister and author who published several religious works during his lifetime. Another was Robert Dowie (1750-1821), a Scottish merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the early trade between Scotland and the West Indies.

In the late 18th century, the DOWIE name gained prominence with the birth of John Alexander Dowie (1847-1907), a Scottish-born evangelist and faith healer who founded the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church in Zion, Illinois, USA. He was a controversial figure known for his emphasis on divine healing and his establishment of the utopian community of Zion City.

Other notable individuals with the DOWIE surname include:

1. James Dowie (1809-1888), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Dowie Memorial Library in East Kilbride, Scotland. 2. Robert Dowie (1867-1945), a Scottish artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. 3. William Dowie (1875-1956), a Scottish professional golfer who won several prestigious tournaments in the early 20th century. 4. George Dowie (1890-1963), a British actor and film director who worked in both Hollywood and the UK. 5. James Dowie (1910-1994), a Scottish writer and journalist who authored several books on Scottish culture and history.

While the DOWIE surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and is now found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dowie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dowie 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. Fife leads with 262 Dowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.84x.

County Total Index
Fife 262 62.84x
Midlothian 102 10.81x
Lanarkshire 88 3.86x
Surrey 35 1.02x
Perthshire 28 8.86x
Ayrshire 25 4.74x
Lancashire 25 0.30x
Angus 22 3.37x
Renfrewshire 20 3.66x
Cheshire 15 0.96x
Middlesex 11 0.16x
Northumberland 11 1.05x
Somerset 8 0.71x
Sussex 7 0.59x
West Lothian 7 6.60x
Argyllshire 6 3.06x
Clackmannanshire 6 10.31x
Hampshire 6 0.42x
Kent 6 0.25x
Lincolnshire 5 0.44x
East Lothian 4 4.29x
Kinross-shire 4 22.47x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.67x
Durham 3 0.14x
Selkirkshire 3 4.71x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.29x
Ross-shire 2 1.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.53x
Essex 1 0.07x
Stirlingshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 47 Dowies recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.38x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 47 12.38x
Govan 44 7.81x
Barony 24 4.16x
Carnbee 23 901.96x
Dunfermline 23 35.88x
St Monance 18 361.45x
Cupar 17 93.77x
Scoonie 16 177.19x
Falkland 15 228.66x
Dundee 14 5.75x
Kirkcaldy 14 67.70x
Markinch 14 98.94x
South Leith 14 13.19x
New Cumnock 12 131.29x
Camberwell 11 2.45x
Kinghorn 10 112.99x
Ferry Port On Craig 9 131.20x
Bedlington 8 22.86x
Claughton With Grange 8 112.99x
Elie 8 487.80x
Kemback 8 388.35x
Liverpool 8 1.58x
Shotts 8 29.35x
Taunton St James 8 48.40x
Brighton 7 2.92x
Cameron 7 289.26x
Dunbog 7 1320.75x
Kettle 7 140.00x
Lambeth 7 1.14x
Leslie 7 66.29x
Montrose 7 17.70x
Sorn 7 67.63x
West Calder 7 37.63x
Bermondsey 6 2.86x
Campbeltown 6 25.37x
Colinton 6 57.03x
East Greenock 6 11.64x
Edinburgh New 6 81.86x
Findo Gask 6 681.82x
Glasgow 6 1.48x
Kirknewton East 6 152.28x
Leuchars 6 113.85x
Logie 6 638.30x
St Andrews 6 31.63x
Abbey 5 6.00x
Alloa 5 17.72x
Clee With Weelsby 5 20.28x
Collessie 5 104.17x
Cults 5 294.12x
Kinglassie 5 157.23x
Linlithgow 5 36.76x
Perth Middle Church 5 42.05x
Portsea 5 1.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.53x
Toxteth Park 5 1.77x
Aberdour 4 95.24x
Abernethy 4 96.85x
Anstruther Easter 4 132.89x
Farnworth 4 7.99x
Lasswade 4 18.54x
Renfrew 4 22.20x
Tranent 4 31.75x
West Kirby 4 147.60x
Corstorphine 3 57.69x
Forteviot 3 198.68x
Gillingham 3 6.06x
Habergham Eaves 3 3.93x
Houghton Le Spring 3 20.72x
Kilmany 3 196.08x
Kinross 3 49.18x
Lofthouse 3 28.79x
Melrose 3 18.70x
Old Monkland 3 3.32x
Perth East Church 3 10.07x
Pittenweem 3 58.37x
Sevenoaks 3 15.40x
St Benedict Cambridge 3 119.05x
Tooting Graveney 3 31.41x
West Greenock 3 3.06x
Beath 2 15.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 9
William 9
John 6
Robert 6
George 5
David 3
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Alex. 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bertram 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
J.Muir 1
Joseph 1
Norman 1
Ronald 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Dowie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dowie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Dowie surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dowie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,164 in 2016. That gives Dowie a modern rank of #5,074.

What does the Dowie surname mean?

A habitational name from a place in Ireland, derived from Irish Gaelic dubh meaning "black".

What does the Dowie map show?

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