NameCensus.

UK surname

Fowell

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the foul or muddy well."

In the 1881 census there were 453 people recorded with the Fowell surname, ranking it #7,289 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 801, ranked #6,910, up from #7,289 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheadle, Uttoxeter, Checkley and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fowell is 833 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.8%.

1881 census count

453

Ranked #7,289

Modern count

801

2016, ranked #6,910

Peak year

1999

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fowell had 453 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,289 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 801 in 2016, ranked #6,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 736 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fowell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fowell 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 386 #6,216
1861 historical 433 #5,944
1881 historical 453 #7,289
1891 historical 647 #5,998
1901 historical 679 #6,431
1911 historical 736 #5,831
1997 modern 673 #7,465
1998 modern 824 #6,601
1999 modern 833 #6,587
2000 modern 827 #6,597
2001 modern 811 #6,576
2002 modern 829 #6,590
2003 modern 791 #6,710
2004 modern 797 #6,687
2005 modern 770 #6,813
2006 modern 792 #6,685
2007 modern 780 #6,830
2008 modern 796 #6,775
2009 modern 794 #6,940
2010 modern 820 #6,876
2011 modern 819 #6,809
2012 modern 803 #6,811
2013 modern 824 #6,777
2014 modern 820 #6,837
2015 modern 810 #6,854
2016 modern 801 #6,910

Geography

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Where Fowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheadle, Uttoxeter, Checkley, St Matthew Bethnal Green, London parishes and Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. 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 Cheadle Staffordshire
2 Uttoxeter, Checkley Staffordshire
3 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire) Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
3 Stoke-on-Trent 028 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stafford 015 Stafford
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fowell

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fowell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Fowell 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

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

Meaning and origin of Fowell

The surname Fowell is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the early 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "foh" or "fou," meaning "foul" or "dirty," and "well," referring to a water source, potentially indicating a connection to a muddy or unclean well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, compiled in 1273, which mentions a John de Fowewell. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during that period. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a William Fowell, indicating the name's presence in different parts of England.

The Fowell surname appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire during its early history. Some variations in spelling, such as Fowel, Fouwell, and Foulwell, can be found in historical records, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times.

One notable individual bearing the Fowell surname was Sir Edmund Fowell (1591-1675), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Taunton during the reign of Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Parliamentarian cause but later switching allegiances to the Royalists.

Another prominent figure was Robert Fowell (1766-1833), an English clergyman and historian who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes. He authored several works, including "The Life of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury" and "The Compleat Incumbent," which addressed the duties of parish clergymen.

In the 19th century, John Fowell (1786-1857), a British architect and surveyor, made notable contributions to the design and construction of churches and public buildings in Yorkshire and Durham.

The surname Fowell also has connections to the United States, with individuals like William Fowell (1826-1890), a British-born American architect who designed several prominent buildings in San Francisco, including the Palace Hotel and the Stanford Memorial Church on the campus of Stanford University.

Throughout its history, the Fowell surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, clergymen, architects, and others who left their mark in their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fowell 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. Staffordshire leads with 200 Fowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.35x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 200 13.35x
Norfolk 41 6.01x
Devon 40 4.33x
Middlesex 34 0.77x
Cornwall 20 3.98x
Lancashire 16 0.30x
Derbyshire 15 2.16x
Surrey 15 0.69x
Durham 10 0.76x
Huntingdonshire 8 9.08x
Kent 8 0.53x
Yorkshire 8 0.18x
Leicestershire 5 1.02x
Lincolnshire 5 0.70x
Northamptonshire 5 1.20x
Somerset 5 0.70x
Suffolk 4 0.74x
Warwickshire 4 0.36x
Hampshire 3 0.33x
Northumberland 3 0.45x
Hertfordshire 2 0.65x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 47 Fowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.58x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 47 29.58x
Cheadle 40 555.56x
Gnosall 24 662.98x
Leek Lowe 18 90.32x
Stoke Damerel 17 26.29x
Bethnal Green London 16 8.30x
Wednesbury 13 34.72x
West Bromwich 13 15.16x
Camberwell 12 4.23x
Itteringham 11 2244.90x
Checkley 10 257.07x
Thetford St Peter 9 500.00x
Uttoxeter 9 117.34x
Great Bolton 8 11.47x
St Ives 8 175.05x
Wolstanton 8 17.58x
Great Yarmouth 7 12.38x
Mile End Old Town London 7 7.41x
Sturston 7 608.70x
Crook Billy Row 6 35.48x
Landrake 6 535.71x
Landulph 6 779.22x
Pillaton 6 1176.47x
Leicester St Margaret 5 4.17x
Margate St John Baptist 5 18.03x
Stamford Baron St Martin 5 223.21x
Corpusty 4 689.66x
Ipstones 4 186.05x
Plymouth Charles The 4 9.83x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 5.62x
Shepton Mallet 4 49.88x
Shoreditch London 4 2.08x
St Botolph Lincoln 4 78.43x
Stretton En Le Field 4 784.31x
Thetford St Cuthbert 4 161.94x
Wingfield South 4 215.05x
Castle Church 3 33.33x
East Dereham 3 34.80x
Leeds 3 1.21x
Limehouse London 3 6.16x
Newton Abbot St Mary 3 38.71x
Shipley 3 13.15x
Sidmouth 3 56.71x
Smallthorne 3 53.96x
Tynemouth 3 8.48x
Withington 3 17.68x
Woolpit 3 191.08x
Aston 2 0.65x
Barnstaple 2 13.79x
Birmingham 2 0.54x
East Stonehouse 2 10.99x
Eccleshall 2 35.21x
Elvet 2 20.99x
Failsworth 2 16.60x
Manchester 2 0.84x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 7.54x
Sculcoates 2 2.87x
St Albans 2 31.90x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.56x
Sutton 2 12.78x
Wembury 2 238.10x
Barnes 1 10.93x
Bedminster 1 1.49x
Caverswall 1 12.84x
Chatham 1 2.40x
Cheadle 1 5.34x
Devonport 1 9.42x
Dolton 1 87.72x
Durham St Nicholas 1 30.86x
Framlingham 1 26.04x
Hulme 1 0.91x
Madron 1 24.63x
Portsea 1 0.56x
Portsmouth 1 4.77x
St Germans 1 28.49x
St Marythe Less 1 58.48x
Stonehouse East 1 21.32x
Sunderland 1 4.29x
Tottenham 1 1.41x
Yaxham 1 135.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 16
Annie 10
Alice 8
Emma 8
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Charlotte 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Agnes 5
Eliza 5
Martha 5
Bertha 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Amy 1
Avis 1
Barbara 1
Bessy 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
Dellia 1
Dora 1
Elizb.Ann 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
John 1
Leathe 1
Margaret 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 22
John 15
Henry 13
James 13
Thomas 11
Arthur 10
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Frederick 7
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Harry 5
Edmund 4
Herbert 4
Amos 3
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alf.Jno. 1
Anthony 1
Avery 1
Chales 1
Edith 1
Emmanuel 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Fredk. 1
Hezekiah 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Leonard 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Newton 1
Reuben 1
Richd.Henry 1
Silas 1

FAQ

Fowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 453 people were recorded with the Fowell surname. That placed it at #7,289 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 801 in 2016. That gives Fowell a modern rank of #6,910.

What does the Fowell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the foul or muddy well."

What does the Fowell map show?

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