NameCensus.

UK surname

Fowden

In the 1881 census there were 213 people recorded with the Fowden surname, ranking it #12,328 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, down from #12,328 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Rugby and Mearns South and Benholm.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fowden is 312 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.5%.

1881 census count

213

Ranked #12,328

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1911

312 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fowden had 213 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,328 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 312 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Fowden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fowden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fowden 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 213 #12,328
1891 historical 237 #13,242
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 312 #11,130
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 152 #21,723
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

Back to top

Where Fowdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Rugby, Mearns South and Benholm, Stockport and Ceredigion. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Stockport Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 008 Wealden
2 Rugby 010 Rugby
3 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire
4 Stockport 005 Stockport
5 Ceredigion 008 Ceredigion

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fowden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Fowden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fowden, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Fowden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Fowden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Fowden is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fowden is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fowden falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fowden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fowden 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. Lancashire leads with 100 Fowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 100 4.02x
Cheshire 71 15.34x
Kent 9 1.26x
Devon 7 1.60x
Flintshire 7 12.42x
Derbyshire 6 1.83x
Middlesex 6 0.29x
Cardiganshire 3 5.86x
Royal Navy 2 8.00x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.18x
Durham 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockport in Cheshire leads with 25 Fowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.95x.

Place Total Index
Stockport 25 104.95x
Newton 18 93.85x
Hyde 11 80.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 18.39x
Stretford 10 73.05x
Heaton Norris 9 63.56x
Hulme 8 15.40x
Levenshulme 8 312.50x
Salford 8 10.93x
Castleton 7 28.17x
Dukinfield 7 32.73x
Hawarden 7 158.01x
Bethnal Green London 6 6.59x
Bollin Fee 6 292.68x
Brinnington 6 138.89x
Kingskerswell 6 821.92x
Canterbury St Mary 5 104.17x
Norton 5 184.50x
Royton 5 65.70x
Withington 5 62.34x
Altrincham 4 49.44x
Broughton In Salford 4 17.57x
Bredbury 3 111.94x
Lampeter 3 600.00x
Macclesfield 3 14.58x
Offerton 3 1200.00x
Blackley 2 45.87x
Everton 2 2.52x
Knockholt 2 350.88x
Pownall Fee 2 96.62x
Royal Navy 2 9.36x
Sevenoaks 2 34.48x
Clifton 1 4.81x
Denton 1 18.15x
Dunham Massey 1 70.42x
Failsworth 1 17.57x
Glossop Dale 1 6.50x
Haughton 1 27.55x
Llaniestyn 1 151.52x
Openshaw 1 8.58x
Steynton 1 46.51x
Trimdon 1 45.25x
West Teignmouth 1 29.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 10
Ann 8
Sarah 5
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Nancy 2
Adelene 1
Amelia 1
Angelina 1
Angeline 1
Barbara 1
Bertha 1
Carnel 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Faruel 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Geraldine 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janey 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Naomi 1
Parnell 1
Prisilla 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1
Theresa 1
Thoresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 13
William 13
John 12
James 8
Samuel 5
George 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Mark 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arnold 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Reginald 2
Tom 2
Alphonoso 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Johnathen 1
Lee 1
Leigh 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Saml.T. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Fowden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fowden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 213 people were recorded with the Fowden surname. That placed it at #12,328 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fowden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Fowden a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Fowden map show?

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