NameCensus.

UK surname

Fowles

An English surname derived from the Old English word "fugol" meaning "bird".

In the 1881 census there were 1,469 people recorded with the Fowles surname, ranking it #2,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,831, ranked #3,461, down from #2,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Over, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Prees. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Cheshire West and Chester and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fowles is 2,295 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.6%.

1881 census count

1,469

Ranked #2,842

Modern count

1,831

2016, ranked #3,461

Peak year

1911

2,295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fowles had 1,469 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016, ranked #3,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,295 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fowles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fowles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fowles 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 859 #3,169
1861 historical 999 #2,792
1881 historical 1,469 #2,842
1891 historical 1,629 #2,746
1901 historical 1,922 #2,748
1911 historical 2,295 #2,210
1997 modern 1,833 #3,280
1998 modern 1,929 #3,248
1999 modern 1,926 #3,274
2000 modern 1,920 #3,275
2001 modern 1,866 #3,294
2002 modern 1,888 #3,323
2003 modern 1,799 #3,397
2004 modern 1,809 #3,379
2005 modern 1,785 #3,392
2006 modern 1,771 #3,422
2007 modern 1,770 #3,459
2008 modern 1,783 #3,458
2009 modern 1,832 #3,456
2010 modern 1,871 #3,461
2011 modern 1,844 #3,458
2012 modern 1,815 #3,452
2013 modern 1,844 #3,462
2014 modern 1,858 #3,461
2015 modern 1,863 #3,425
2016 modern 1,831 #3,461

Geography

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Where Fowles' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Wrexham and Cheshire East. 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 Over Cheshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Prees Shropshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Whitchurch Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
2 Cheshire West and Chester 045 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire West and Chester 047 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Wrexham 018 Wrexham
5 Cheshire East 048 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fowles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fowles

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Fowles is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Fowles is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fowles falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fowles

The surname Fowles is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "fugol," meaning "bird." It was originally used as a nickname for someone who kept or caught birds, or who may have exhibited bird-like characteristics.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Fowles dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Fugeles." This suggests that the name has been in use for at least a thousand years in England.

In the 13th century, the surname Fowles was also found in various records with the spellings "Fugel," "Fogel," and "Foughel." These variations reflect the changes in language and pronunciation over time.

One notable bearer of the name Fowles was John Fowles (1926-2005), an English novelist and philosopher best known for his works "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "The Magus."

Another prominent figure with the surname Fowles was Reverend John Fowles (1617-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Principles and Practices of Certain Moderate Divines of the Church of England."

In the late 16th century, the name Fowles was also associated with a place called Fowleshurst (now Foulshurst) in Wiltshire, England. This place name likely derived from a combination of the surname Fowles and the Old English word "hyrst," meaning a wooded hill.

Robert Fowles (1610-1677) was an English Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Gloucester from 1663 until his death.

William Fowles (1805-1881) was a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The surname Fowles has also been recorded with various spelling variations, such as Fowle, Fowels, and Foules, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and pronunciation over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fowles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fowles 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. Cheshire leads with 208 Fowles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.58x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 208 6.58x
Gloucestershire 205 7.29x
Middlesex 173 1.21x
Lancashire 106 0.62x
Surrey 102 1.46x
Shropshire 98 7.92x
Somerset 72 3.12x
Staffordshire 67 1.39x
Worcestershire 45 2.40x
Yorkshire 42 0.30x
Dorset 39 4.15x
Durham 37 0.87x
Warwickshire 37 1.02x
Hampshire 29 0.99x
Herefordshire 25 4.25x
Sussex 24 0.99x
Kent 23 0.47x
Essex 21 0.74x
Cumberland 14 1.13x
Flintshire 13 3.37x
Wiltshire 13 1.03x
Devon 11 0.37x
Denbighshire 10 1.85x
Midlothian 10 0.52x
Kinross-shire 8 22.09x
Oxfordshire 7 0.79x
Lanarkshire 5 0.11x
Berkshire 3 0.28x
Fife 3 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.05x
Lincolnshire 2 0.09x
Merionethshire 2 0.76x
Northamptonshire 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Angus 1 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.22x
Renfrewshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Avening in Gloucestershire leads with 48 Fowles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 483.38x.

Place Total Index
Avening 48 483.38x
East Stour 36 1628.96x
Croydon 34 8.77x
Whitchurch 32 133.17x
Over 30 93.31x
Sutton 29 50.85x
Prees 27 179.05x
Birmingham 21 1.74x
Street 21 168.27x
Cheltenham 20 9.22x
Bethnal Green London 19 3.05x
Bishopwearmouth 19 5.19x
Wolstanton Chesterton 19 76.86x
Clifton 17 11.97x
Marton In Whitegate 17 498.53x
Nantwich 17 46.26x
St Pancras London 17 1.47x
Bristol St George 16 12.31x
Twerton 16 67.26x
Bisley 15 58.89x
Lambeth 14 1.12x
Portsea 14 2.43x
Battersea 13 2.47x
Hackney London 13 1.62x
Kempsey 13 183.10x
St Marylebone London 13 1.70x
Aston 12 1.21x
Stretton Sugwas 12 805.37x
Wolverhampton 12 3.23x
Arundel 10 73.91x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 7.56x
Bow London 10 5.48x
Dagenham 10 59.42x
Edinburgh Greenside S 10 143.68x
Morden 10 289.02x
Romiley 10 112.11x
Ryde 10 15.85x
Cam 9 104.41x
Chiswick 9 11.49x
Coln St Aldwins 9 414.75x
Edenhall 9 681.82x
Fulham London 9 4.33x
Hereford St Martin 9 126.40x
Leeds 9 1.12x
Malpas 9 193.13x
Poplar London 9 3.33x
Salford 9 1.80x
Sutton In Runcorn 9 489.13x
Westoe 9 3.72x
Ashprington 8 361.99x
Audley 8 16.72x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 6.25x
Brighton 8 1.64x
Fossoway 8 128.62x
Islington London 8 0.58x
Kensington London 8 1.00x
Manchester 8 1.05x
Paddington London 8 1.52x
Stockport 8 4.91x
Walcot 8 6.51x
West Ham 8 1.28x
Wickwar 8 177.38x
Bristol St Augustine 7 15.44x
Camberwell 7 0.76x
Cheadle 7 11.59x
Compton Bishop 7 259.26x
Darlaston 7 10.47x
Ellesmere Penley 7 432.10x
Kirkdale 7 2.45x
Moulton 7 240.55x
Odd Rode 7 44.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 1.36x
Threapwood 7 1521.74x
Willesden 7 5.18x
Wotton Under Edge 7 42.27x
Bridgnorth St Mary 6 49.67x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 20.33x
Tooting Graveney 6 30.88x
Trowbridge 6 10.71x
Wednesfield 6 8.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 97
John 81
George 62
Thomas 49
James 37
Henry 32
Samuel 26
Joseph 24
Charles 22
Frederick 15
Alfred 14
Walter 14
Robert 13
Albert 12
Richard 12
Daniel 11
Frank 11
Arthur 10
Edward 8
Herbert 8
Edwin 5
Harry 5
Ralph 5
David 4
Francis 4
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Henery 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Lawrence 2
Louis 2
Matthias 2
Paul 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Reginald 2
Reuben 2
Ruben 2
Rufus 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Fowles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fowles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,469 people were recorded with the Fowles surname. That placed it at #2,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fowles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016. That gives Fowles a modern rank of #3,461.

What does the Fowles surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "fugol" meaning "bird".

What does the Fowles map show?

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