NameCensus.

UK surname

Dowson

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of "David".

In the 1881 census there were 1,637 people recorded with the Dowson surname, ranking it #2,616 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,979, ranked #2,262, up from #2,616 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walsingham, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Scarborough and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dowson is 3,091 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.0%.

1881 census count

1,637

Ranked #2,616

Modern count

2,979

2016, ranked #2,262

Peak year

1998

3,091 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dowson had 1,637 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,616 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,979 in 2016, ranked #2,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,776 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dowson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dowson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dowson 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 1,329 #2,161
1861 historical 1,449 #1,961
1881 historical 1,637 #2,616
1891 historical 2,254 #2,072
1901 historical 2,465 #2,213
1911 historical 2,776 #1,872
1997 modern 2,992 #2,159
1998 modern 3,091 #2,172
1999 modern 3,071 #2,203
2000 modern 3,056 #2,203
2001 modern 3,017 #2,186
2002 modern 3,051 #2,208
2003 modern 2,969 #2,216
2004 modern 2,941 #2,229
2005 modern 2,887 #2,247
2006 modern 2,909 #2,221
2007 modern 2,901 #2,259
2008 modern 2,932 #2,246
2009 modern 3,008 #2,245
2010 modern 3,068 #2,250
2011 modern 3,054 #2,225
2012 modern 2,985 #2,235
2013 modern 3,061 #2,217
2014 modern 3,044 #2,247
2015 modern 2,984 #2,271
2016 modern 2,979 #2,262

Geography

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Where Dowsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walsingham, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Scarborough and Ryedale. 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 Walsingham Durham
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Auckland St Andrew Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
3 County Durham 057 County Durham
4 County Durham 056 County Durham
5 Ryedale 001 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dowson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dowson

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dowson 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

Dowson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Dowson

The surname Dowson has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name "Dow," which was a diminutive form of the name David. The surname is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dowson can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Doweson." This spelling variation suggests that the name was initially a patronymic form, meaning "son of Dow."

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Dowson began to appear in various historical records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls and the Poll Tax Returns. One notable early bearer of the name was John Dowson, who was mentioned in the Lancashire Wills and Inventories from the year 1548.

The Dowson surname has also been associated with several place names in England, particularly in the North. For instance, there was a hamlet called Dowson Fold near Burnley in Lancashire, which likely took its name from an early settler with the surname Dowson.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Dowson throughout history include:

1. Sir George Dowson (1624-1693), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for York. 2. John Dowson (1786-1854), a British orientalist and scholar who published translations of Hindu texts. 3. Walter Dowson (1858-1929), a British artist known for his landscape paintings of the English countryside. 4. Ernest Dowson (1867-1900), an English poet and writer associated with the Decadent movement, best known for his poem "Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae." 5. Thomas Dowson (1919-1985), a British mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the field of numerical analysis.

While the surname Dowson has been present in historical records for centuries, it has remained relatively uncommon, particularly outside of northern England. However, it continues to hold a place in the rich tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped the country's naming traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dowson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dowson 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. Durham leads with 584 Dowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.29x.

County Total Index
Durham 584 12.29x
Yorkshire 548 3.46x
Norfolk 73 2.97x
Northumberland 57 2.40x
Cumberland 45 3.27x
Middlesex 42 0.26x
Surrey 38 0.49x
Lancashire 36 0.19x
Kent 26 0.48x
Suffolk 25 1.29x
Warwickshire 18 0.45x
Cheshire 12 0.34x
Gloucestershire 12 0.38x
Worcestershire 12 0.58x
Lincolnshire 11 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.46x
Hampshire 9 0.28x
Leicestershire 8 0.45x
Rutland 8 6.82x
Berkshire 7 0.58x
Essex 6 0.19x
Glamorgan 6 0.22x
Hertfordshire 6 0.55x
Staffordshire 6 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.52x
Lanarkshire 5 0.10x
Devon 4 0.12x
Northamptonshire 4 0.27x
Oxfordshire 3 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.20x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Stirlingshire 2 0.34x
Westmorland 2 0.57x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.07x
Ayrshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Forest Frith in Durham leads with 53 Dowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1277.11x.

Place Total Index
Forest Frith 53 1277.11x
Lynesack Softley 41 319.56x
Wolsingham 41 94.69x
Woodland 34 1079.37x
Alston 33 130.23x
Bishop Auckland 27 42.36x
Crook Billy Row 26 42.74x
Cockerton 23 150.92x
Middlesbrough 23 11.16x
Scarborough 19 13.21x
Stanhope 19 38.74x
Goathland 18 640.57x
Rosedale East Side 18 837.21x
Leeds 17 1.90x
Ormesby 17 39.97x
Evenwood Barony 16 99.07x
Stella 16 393.12x
Benfieldside 15 48.02x
Byker 15 12.77x
Chirton 15 27.90x
Great Driffield 15 46.20x
Birmingham 14 1.04x
Darlington 14 7.63x
Lunedale 13 619.05x
Sculcoates 13 5.18x
Brandon Byshottles 12 20.16x
Escomb 12 54.97x
Hunwick Helmington 12 105.17x
Thirsk 12 65.72x
Bishopwearmouth 11 2.70x
Pickering 11 55.22x
Rudston 11 333.33x
Ryton Woodside 11 185.81x
Dudley 10 3.94x
Gateshead 10 2.81x
Kirkleatham 10 46.79x
Newbiggin 10 296.74x
Norton 10 57.27x
Standard Hill 10 194.93x
Tankersley 10 84.75x
Thetford St Peter 10 154.80x
Danby 9 140.63x
Forcett With Carkin 9 291.26x
Hampstead London 9 3.62x
Holy Trinity 9 2.36x
Leyburn 9 169.17x
Manningham 9 4.62x
Saxlingham Nethergate 9 309.28x
Slingsby 9 276.07x
South Shields 9 21.27x
Ugglebarnby 9 422.54x
Whitby 9 16.88x
Birdsall 8 457.14x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 2.66x
Langtoft 8 236.69x
Lowestoft 8 8.71x
Margate St John Baptist 8 8.02x
Mickleton 8 219.18x
Newton Cap 8 108.55x
Normanby In 8 18.91x
Norton In Malton 8 41.71x
Oakham Lordshold 8 65.20x
Sinnington 8 465.12x
Werneth 8 72.46x
Westoe 8 2.97x
Wighton 8 285.71x
Doncaster 7 6.05x
Easingwold 7 62.67x
Gorleston 7 14.17x
Graystoke 7 286.89x
Limehouse London 7 3.99x
Middleton In Teesdale 7 55.82x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.06x
Thornaby 7 11.84x
Cornsay 6 46.91x
Finchley 6 9.80x
Geldeston 6 375.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 2.92x
Kildale 6 389.61x
Thornton Dale 6 142.86x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Dowson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dowson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,637 people were recorded with the Dowson surname. That placed it at #2,616 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dowson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,979 in 2016. That gives Dowson a modern rank of #2,262.

What does the Dowson surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of "David".

What does the Dowson map show?

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