NameCensus.

UK surname

Dowse

A locational surname derived from someone who lived near the dowse, an area of uncultivated land.

In the 1881 census there were 1,022 people recorded with the Dowse surname, ranking it #3,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,238, ranked #4,818, down from #3,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Urchfont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Boston and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dowse is 1,532 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.1%.

1881 census count

1,022

Ranked #3,837

Modern count

1,238

2016, ranked #4,818

Peak year

1911

1,532 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dowse had 1,022 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,238 in 2016, ranked #4,818.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dowse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dowse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dowse 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 675 #3,842
1861 historical 661 #4,058
1881 historical 1,022 #3,837
1891 historical 1,090 #3,877
1901 historical 1,373 #3,662
1911 historical 1,532 #3,173
1997 modern 1,380 #4,187
1998 modern 1,409 #4,251
1999 modern 1,406 #4,287
2000 modern 1,392 #4,304
2001 modern 1,331 #4,395
2002 modern 1,351 #4,430
2003 modern 1,288 #4,520
2004 modern 1,282 #4,543
2005 modern 1,256 #4,582
2006 modern 1,238 #4,648
2007 modern 1,240 #4,692
2008 modern 1,237 #4,729
2009 modern 1,273 #4,702
2010 modern 1,304 #4,693
2011 modern 1,269 #4,754
2012 modern 1,244 #4,765
2013 modern 1,272 #4,747
2014 modern 1,275 #4,762
2015 modern 1,271 #4,731
2016 modern 1,238 #4,818

Geography

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Where Dowses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Urchfont and Abbots Langley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Boston, Redcar and Cleveland and North Tyneside. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Urchfont Wiltshire
5 Abbots Langley Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 Redcar and Cleveland 002 Redcar and Cleveland
4 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
5 Redcar and Cleveland 003 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dowse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dowse

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

Dowse is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dowse falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dowse

The surname Dowse is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "dowse," which means "to strike" or "to beat." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was known for their physical strength or skill in combat.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dowse can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is spelled as "Dows" in this document, indicating that the modern spelling had not yet been established.

In the 13th century, the name Dowse appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled "Douse." This variation in spelling was common during that time period, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Dowse was William Dowse, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1201. Another notable figure was Sir John Dowse, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the late 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Dowse was associated with several place names in England, such as Dowse Green in Worcestershire and Dowse Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Dowse who resided in or owned land in those areas.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Dowse was Thomas Dowse (1772-1856), an American philanthropist and horticulturist. He bequeathed his extensive library and collection of artifacts to the Massachusetts Historical Society, which became known as the Dowse Library.

Other notable bearers of the surname Dowse include Richard Dowse (1619-1694), an early settler of Salem, Massachusetts, and Sir Jonathan Dowse (1865-1934), a British politician and businessman who served as Lord Mayor of London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dowse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dowse 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. Lincolnshire leads with 293 Dowses recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.27x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 293 18.27x
Middlesex 181 1.80x
Wiltshire 103 11.61x
Hampshire 77 3.75x
Yorkshire 61 0.61x
Kent 42 1.23x
Surrey 33 0.68x
Hertfordshire 32 4.63x
Suffolk 28 2.29x
Warwickshire 27 1.07x
Lancashire 21 0.18x
Durham 18 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.96x
Somerset 11 0.68x
Northumberland 9 0.60x
Berkshire 7 0.93x
Lanarkshire 7 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.94x
Essex 6 0.30x
Glamorgan 6 0.34x
Gloucestershire 6 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.82x
Cheshire 5 0.23x
Devon 5 0.24x
Staffordshire 5 0.15x
Derbyshire 4 0.25x
Channel Islands 3 1.01x
Sussex 3 0.18x
Cornwall 2 0.18x
Northamptonshire 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 1.67x
Bedfordshire 1 0.19x
Berwickshire 1 0.82x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.50x
Shropshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 31 Dowses recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.70x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 31 7.70x
Hackney London 29 5.16x
Islington London 22 2.26x
Coventry Holy Trinity 21 27.81x
Hammersmith London 19 7.69x
St Pancras London 19 2.35x
Louth 16 43.54x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 14 61.08x
Urchfont 14 385.67x
Bishops Waltham 13 151.87x
Deptford St Paul 13 4.93x
Devizes St James 12 101.87x
Liverpool 12 1.66x
Bury St Edmunds St James 11 33.72x
Alverstoke 10 13.44x
Battersea 10 2.71x
Clatford Park 10 11111.11x
Heston 10 30.03x
North Thoresby 10 387.60x
Thorpe St Peter 10 510.20x
Boston 9 18.50x
Sarratt 9 375.00x
Sutterton 9 282.13x
Alton Priors 8 1176.47x
Authorpe 8 1454.55x
Beelsby 8 1355.93x
Gosberton 8 112.36x
Greenwich 8 5.01x
Hemel Hempstead 8 25.69x
Lewisham 8 4.38x
Rothwell 8 898.88x
Trusthorpe 8 695.65x
Westminster St Margaret 8 16.54x
Wigtoft 8 344.83x
Chelsea London 7 2.32x
Collingbourne Kingston 7 292.89x
Gateshead 7 3.13x
Govan 7 0.87x
North Kyme 7 292.89x
Rotherham 7 12.50x
South Kyme 7 384.62x
St George Hanover Square 7 3.96x
St Marylebone London 7 1.31x
Abbots Langley 6 58.42x
Amber Hill 6 444.44x
Caterham 6 27.78x
Holy Trinity 6 2.51x
Honington 6 983.61x
Kensington London 6 1.08x
Keynsham 6 51.77x
Kings Langley 6 119.05x
Lambeth 6 0.69x
Manby 6 952.38x
Market Lavington 6 125.00x
Patney 6 1224.49x
Pelhams Lands 6 1090.91x
Pinchbeck 6 58.37x
Poplar London 6 3.17x
Quadring 6 194.17x
Skirbeck Quarter 6 204.78x
Stratton St Margaret 6 44.12x
Tottenham 6 3.76x
West Fen 6 540.54x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 5 42.16x
Bromley London 5 2.27x
Darlaston 5 10.69x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 18.42x
Devizes St Mary 5 55.80x
Dogdyke 5 694.44x
Frampton 5 164.47x
Heworth 5 8.50x
Hound 5 35.84x
Kirton 5 77.88x
Leake 5 68.03x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.43x
Skelmanthorpe 5 46.60x
St George In East London 5 5.30x
Timberland 5 289.02x
Tynemouth 5 6.26x
Whaplode 5 91.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 62
William 60
George 46
Charles 33
Thomas 33
James 28
Henry 18
Robert 17
Edward 15
Richard 15
Joseph 14
Alfred 12
Arthur 10
Harry 9
Frederick 8
Isaac 7
Benjamin 6
Samuel 6
Albert 4
Frederic 4
Jacob 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Abram 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Jesse 3
Nelson 3
Percy 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Matthew 2
Richd. 2
Stephen 2
Andrew 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.J. 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Mariot 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Dowse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dowse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,022 people were recorded with the Dowse surname. That placed it at #3,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dowse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,238 in 2016. That gives Dowse a modern rank of #4,818.

What does the Dowse surname mean?

A locational surname derived from someone who lived near the dowse, an area of uncultivated land.

What does the Dowse map show?

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