NameCensus.

UK surname

Fowler

An occupational surname referring to a bird catcher or hunter of wild fowl.

In the 1881 census there were 17,006 people recorded with the Fowler surname, ranking it #223 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21,001, ranked #283, down from #223 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mauchline Rural, Copeland and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fowler is 22,299 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.

1881 census count

17,006

Ranked #223

Modern count

21,001

2016, ranked #283

Peak year

1999

22,299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fowler had 17,006 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #223 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 21,001 in 2016, ranked #283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20,181 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fowler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fowler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fowler 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 10,676 #237
1861 historical 9,959 #261
1881 historical 17,006 #223
1891 historical 16,816 #241
1901 historical 20,181 #240
1911 historical 19,918 #227
1997 modern 21,379 #268
1998 modern 22,193 #269
1999 modern 22,299 #270
2000 modern 21,998 #274
2001 modern 21,473 #273
2002 modern 21,888 #274
2003 modern 21,245 #276
2004 modern 21,096 #279
2005 modern 20,601 #282
2006 modern 20,541 #282
2007 modern 20,682 #282
2008 modern 20,737 #282
2009 modern 21,130 #284
2010 modern 21,459 #285
2011 modern 21,176 #284
2012 modern 20,856 #283
2013 modern 21,266 #282
2014 modern 21,331 #282
2015 modern 21,086 #282
2016 modern 21,001 #283

Geography

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Where Fowlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mauchline Rural, Copeland, South Somerset, Worcester and Fenland. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mauchline Rural East Ayrshire
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
4 Worcester 005 Worcester
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fowler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fowler

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

Fowler is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fowler falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fowler

The surname Fowler has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fugelere," which means "hunter of wildfowl or birds." The name is occupational in nature, indicating that early bearers of this surname were employed as fowlers, individuals who caught wild birds for food or sport.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Fowler can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions individuals with the surname Fowler living in various counties, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Fowler was often spelled in various ways, such as Foulere, Fowlere, and Fouler, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions of the time. Some examples of place names associated with the surname include Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire and Fowlshaw in Lancashire, which likely derived their names from individuals with the Fowler surname residing in those areas.

One notable historical figure with the surname Fowler was John Fowler (1537-1579), an English printer and scholar who was involved in the production of the Geneva Bible, one of the most influential English translations of the Bible during the Protestant Reformation.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Fowler (1585-1663), an English politician and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1650. He was also a member of the East India Company and played a significant role in the expansion of British trade and influence in the East.

In the realm of literature, Sarah Fowler (1779-1853) was an English writer and philanthropist who authored several books, including "The Poetical Works of Mrs. Fowler" and "Memoirs of the Life of Miss Caroline E. Smelt."

John Fowler (1826-1864) was an English inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of steam-powered agricultural machinery. He founded the company Fowler's Steam Plough Works, which became a leading manufacturer of steam engines and ploughs in the 19th century.

Henry Hartley Fowler (1830-1911) was a British politician and lawyer who served as the Secretary of State for India from 1894 to 1895. He was also a member of the Liberal Party and played a prominent role in British politics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fowler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fowler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17,006 people were recorded with the Fowler surname. That placed it at #223 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fowler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 21,001 in 2016. That gives Fowler a modern rank of #283.

What does the Fowler surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a bird catcher or hunter of wild fowl.

What does the Fowler map show?

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