NameCensus.

UK surname

Dowler

A topographic surname for someone who lived near a dove-cote or pigeon-house.

In the 1881 census there were 549 people recorded with the Dowler surname, ranking it #6,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 896, ranked #6,324, down from #6,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Newcastle-under Lyne and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Welwyn Hatfield and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dowler is 934 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.2%.

1881 census count

549

Ranked #6,284

Modern count

896

2016, ranked #6,324

Peak year

2002

934 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dowler had 549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 896 in 2016, ranked #6,324.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 810 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dowler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dowler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dowler 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 369 #6,443
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 549 #6,284
1891 historical 570 #6,671
1901 historical 696 #6,314
1911 historical 810 #5,426
1997 modern 886 #6,035
1998 modern 924 #6,028
1999 modern 924 #6,082
2000 modern 925 #6,056
2001 modern 901 #6,083
2002 modern 934 #6,017
2003 modern 918 #5,985
2004 modern 930 #5,926
2005 modern 910 #5,973
2006 modern 855 #6,290
2007 modern 860 #6,315
2008 modern 871 #6,288
2009 modern 896 #6,293
2010 modern 915 #6,312
2011 modern 913 #6,258
2012 modern 901 #6,245
2013 modern 900 #6,343
2014 modern 909 #6,327
2015 modern 897 #6,341
2016 modern 896 #6,324

Geography

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Where Dowlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Newcastle-under Lyne, London parishes, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Welwyn Hatfield, Wirral, Sandwell and Castle Point. 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 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
2 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 2
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
2 Welwyn Hatfield 007 Welwyn Hatfield
3 Wirral 040 Wirral
4 Sandwell 026 Sandwell
5 Castle Point 010 Castle Point

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dowler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dowler

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dowler is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dowler 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

Dowler falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dowler

The surname Dowler has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word 'dol', meaning a valley or dell, and the Middle English suffix '-er', indicating a person from a particular place. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in or came from a valley or dell.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dowler surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, which mention a person named William Dolere. The surname was also documented in various other medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which list a William Doller.

During the 13th century, the name was also found in the form 'Dolouere', as evident in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mention a person named Walter Dolouere. This spelling variation further reinforces the connection to the Old English word 'dol'.

In the 14th century, the Dowler surname appeared in various forms, including 'Dowlere' and 'Dolour'. The Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332 recorded a Richard Dowlere, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 listed a John Dolour.

Notable historical figures with the Dowler surname include Sir John Dowler (c. 1567-1622), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Plymouth in the early 17th century. Another prominent individual was Thomas Dowler (1764-1843), an English author and clergyman who served as a chaplain in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Dowler surname was William Dowler, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. The name also appeared in various colonial records, such as the land grants of Pennsylvania from the late 17th century.

Other notable Dowlers throughout history include Benjamin Franklin Dowler (1816-1863), an American physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics, and George Dowler (1836-1924), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Dowler Foundation for social welfare initiatives.

While the Dowler surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its origins in the valleys and dells of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dowler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dowler 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. Warwickshire leads with 123 Dowlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.11x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 123 9.11x
Staffordshire 65 3.60x
Worcestershire 64 9.15x
Middlesex 63 1.18x
Lancashire 59 0.93x
Gloucestershire 46 4.38x
Monmouthshire 35 9.04x
Hertfordshire 33 8.94x
Surrey 13 0.50x
Shropshire 11 2.38x
Derbyshire 8 0.95x
Kent 6 0.33x
Cheshire 5 0.42x
Stirlingshire 4 2.03x
Suffolk 4 0.61x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Leicestershire 2 0.34x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Durham 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 51 Dowlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.33x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 51 11.33x
Aston 39 10.49x
Newcastle Under Lyme 26 81.28x
Rushden 16 3265.31x
Naunton 15 1546.39x
Kings Norton 14 22.33x
Cow Honeybourne 13 1940.30x
Everton 13 6.42x
Sandon 13 928.57x
West Bromwich 13 12.56x
Caldicot 11 428.02x
Enfield 11 31.30x
Northfield 10 75.36x
Bedwellty 9 13.17x
Handsworth 9 20.20x
Harborne 9 15.54x
Hulme 9 6.78x
Wem 9 130.81x
Kingswinford 8 12.19x
Spitalfields London 8 19.86x
Stapenhill 8 64.10x
Stourbridge 8 44.47x
Sutton Coldfield 8 56.34x
Bow London 7 10.27x
Leamington 7 78.21x
Rogerstone 7 292.89x
Shoreditch London 7 3.02x
Toxteth Park 7 3.25x
Claines 6 31.27x
Croydon 6 4.14x
Edgbaston 6 14.33x
Kensington London 6 2.02x
Manchester 6 2.10x
Paddington London 6 3.05x
Pirton 6 1764.71x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 10.45x
Broughton In Salford 5 8.61x
Islington London 5 0.96x
Peopleton 5 1000.00x
St Pancras London 5 1.16x
Upper Swell 5 3571.43x
Aldeburgh 4 103.63x
Bradford 4 13.45x
Cheltenham 4 4.94x
Dunipace 4 115.61x
Liverpool 4 1.04x
Monks Coppenhall 4 8.97x
Worcester St Andrew 4 169.49x
Atherstone On Stour 3 1764.71x
Bermondsey 3 1.88x
Chatham 3 5.97x
Eyeford 3 3000.00x
Hertford St John 3 54.55x
Lower Swell 3 400.00x
Moss Side 3 8.97x
Raglan 3 227.27x
Severn Stoke 3 236.22x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 30.30x
Beckenham 2 8.37x
Clifton 2 3.77x
Holy Cross 2 625.00x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.38x
Little Comberton 2 377.36x
Monmouth 2 19.47x
Newington 2 1.01x
Penalt 2 229.89x
St Dunstan In West London 2 119.76x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.12x
Warwick St Mary 2 17.06x
Worcester St Peter 2 15.11x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.73x
Buglawton 1 35.21x
Habergham Eaves 1 1.72x
Llangattock 1 212.77x
Poplar London 1 0.99x
Rotherfield 1 12.58x
St Clement Danes London 1 9.03x
Sunninghill 1 17.92x
Therfield 1 46.30x
Wavertree 1 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
George 23
John 23
James 19
Thomas 18
Henry 11
Charles 10
Joseph 9
Alfred 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Alexander 2
Amos 2
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
Dustall 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Elizabeth 1
Ephram 1
Frank 1
Fredereck 1
Harrold 1
Jesse 1
Keziah 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Lord 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Willm.A. 1

FAQ

Dowler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dowler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 549 people were recorded with the Dowler surname. That placed it at #6,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dowler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 896 in 2016. That gives Dowler a modern rank of #6,324.

What does the Dowler surname mean?

A topographic surname for someone who lived near a dove-cote or pigeon-house.

What does the Dowler map show?

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