NameCensus.

UK surname

Gowers

An English surname derived from one who lived near the gorse bushes.

In the 1881 census there were 815 people recorded with the Gowers surname, ranking it #4,592 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,048, ranked #5,561, down from #4,592 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Waltham, Great and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, St Edmundsbury and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gowers is 1,221 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.6%.

1881 census count

815

Ranked #4,592

Modern count

1,048

2016, ranked #5,561

Peak year

1911

1,221 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gowers had 815 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,592 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,048 in 2016, ranked #5,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,221 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gowers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gowers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gowers 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 431 #5,681
1861 historical 564 #4,667
1881 historical 815 #4,592
1891 historical 979 #4,224
1901 historical 1,114 #4,341
1911 historical 1,221 #3,871
1997 modern 1,119 #4,993
1998 modern 1,148 #5,065
1999 modern 1,140 #5,143
2000 modern 1,150 #5,077
2001 modern 1,120 #5,093
2002 modern 1,112 #5,231
2003 modern 1,089 #5,222
2004 modern 1,098 #5,192
2005 modern 1,071 #5,253
2006 modern 1,059 #5,296
2007 modern 1,054 #5,369
2008 modern 1,052 #5,421
2009 modern 1,054 #5,530
2010 modern 1,066 #5,578
2011 modern 1,069 #5,504
2012 modern 1,033 #5,588
2013 modern 1,082 #5,448
2014 modern 1,082 #5,487
2015 modern 1,068 #5,492
2016 modern 1,048 #5,561

Geography

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Where Gowers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Waltham, Great, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting and Stebbing. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, St Edmundsbury and Chelmsford. 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 Waltham, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Haverhill, Little Wratting Suffolk
5 Stebbing Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 018 Braintree
2 St Edmundsbury 011 St Edmundsbury
3 Chelmsford 001 Chelmsford
4 Chelmsford 002 Chelmsford
5 Chelmsford 009 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gowers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gowers

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

London Fringe

Within London, Gowers is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Gowers is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gowers

The surname Gowers has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gouwere," meaning "goer" or "wanderer." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname given to someone who traveled frequently or was known for their wandering ways.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gowers surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Gowere" in this historical document, indicating its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, records show a Reginald Gouwere in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Additionally, there is a mention of a John Gowere in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, further establishing the prevalence of the name in various regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the Gowers surname was Sir John Gowers (1565-1638), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. He served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1609 and played a significant role in local governance and politics.

Another prominent figure was William Gowers (1845-1915), a renowned English neurologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of neurological disorders. He was knighted in 1900 for his medical achievements and is remembered for his work on diseases such as muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis.

In the literary realm, John Gower (c. 1330-1408) was an English poet and friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. He is considered one of the principal English medieval poets and is best known for his works "Confessio Amantis" and "Vox Clamantis."

The Gowers surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Gower Peninsula in Wales and Gower Street in London. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time, as people often adopted their surnames from the places they lived or originated from.

While the Gowers surname has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "gouwere," reflecting the wandering spirit or occupation of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gowers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gowers 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. Essex leads with 303 Gowers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.28x.

County Total Index
Essex 303 19.28x
Suffolk 146 15.06x
Middlesex 94 1.18x
Lancashire 81 0.86x
Kent 60 2.21x
Surrey 47 1.21x
Yorkshire 20 0.25x
Warwickshire 13 0.65x
Wiltshire 8 1.14x
Hampshire 6 0.37x
Norfolk 6 0.49x
Bedfordshire 5 1.21x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.99x
Herefordshire 5 1.53x
Lincolnshire 3 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.28x
Lanarkshire 2 0.08x
Northumberland 2 0.17x
Oxfordshire 2 0.41x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Durham 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. Great Waltham in Essex leads with 102 Gowers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1593.75x.

Place Total Index
Great Waltham 102 1593.75x
Haverhill 36 418.12x
Stebbing 36 1184.21x
Chelmsford 27 100.15x
Habergham Eaves 17 19.69x
Oldham 17 5.58x
Halling 16 449.44x
Brentwood 15 156.58x
Hackney London 15 3.36x
Lambeth 14 2.02x
Stanstead 14 1372.55x
Tottenham 14 11.04x
Blatchinworth 13 60.44x
Little Waltham 13 822.78x
Writtle 12 186.92x
Clare 11 237.07x
Islington London 11 1.43x
Poplar London 11 7.32x
Rattlesden 11 387.32x
Barnston 10 2222.22x
Ipswich St Clement 10 40.58x
Paddington London 10 3.42x
Hundon 9 371.90x
Aspall 8 1818.18x
Clarendon Park 8 1355.93x
Croydon 8 3.72x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.82x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 24.32x
Maidstone 8 9.89x
Maldon St Marys 8 212.20x
Bocking 7 74.07x
Camberwell 7 1.38x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 7 77.78x
Rotherhithe 7 7.12x
Stanford Le Hope 7 311.11x
Wuerdle Wardle 7 24.42x
Birmingham 6 0.90x
Canterbury Holy Cross 6 229.01x
Fryerning 6 312.50x
Greenwich 6 4.74x
Long Melford 6 66.59x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 42.83x
Braintree 5 35.44x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.23x
Bromyard 5 116.28x
Broomfield 5 202.43x
Colchester St James 5 78.49x
Glemsford 5 73.42x
Lower Booths 5 29.55x
Oswaldtwistle 5 14.98x
Portsmouth 5 13.31x
Westminster St John 5 5.16x
Wimbledon 5 11.48x
Ampthill 4 65.04x
Barking 4 8.70x
Chignal Smealy 4 727.27x
Cressing 4 272.11x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.49x
Ipswich St Helen 4 34.81x
Kenilworth 4 35.34x
Limehouse London 4 4.58x
Nazeing 4 198.02x
Skerton 4 51.61x
Walton In Wakefield 4 236.69x
West Ham 4 1.15x
Bardfield Saling 3 370.37x
Besthorpe 3 225.56x
Bromley London 3 1.71x
Great Massingham 3 124.48x
Haslingden 3 7.67x
Leamington Priors 3 6.07x
Maldon All Sts 3 96.46x
Manchester 3 0.71x
Mildenhall 3 29.13x
Newchurch 3 3.88x
Sheldwich 3 172.41x
St Andrewthe Less 3 5.21x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.14x
Stoke By Clare 3 250.00x
Sudbury St Gregory 3 38.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Sarah 38
Elizabeth 33
Alice 25
Emma 21
Eliza 20
Ellen 13
Emily 12
Annie 11
Jane 10
Charlotte 9
Edith 7
Martha 7
Matilda 7
Ada 6
Lydia 6
Fanny 5
Hannah 5
Ann 4
Clara 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Susannah 4
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Elizth. 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Infant 2
Julia 2
Letitia 2
Lucy 2
Maryann 2
Miriam 2
Rosa 2
Rosana 2
Rose 2
Belinda 1
Bessie 1
Ellenor 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
James 37
George 35
John 35
Thomas 27
Charles 24
Walter 13
Alfred 11
Henry 11
Albert 10
Edward 9
Harry 9
Joseph 9
Arthur 8
David 7
Herbert 7
Samuel 7
Frederick 6
Ernest 5
Stephen 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Abraham 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Jabez 3
Jesse 3
Philip 3
Thos. 3
Edgar 2
Ezra 2
Willie 2
Andrew 1
Caleb 1
Catherine 1
Chales 1
Christopher 1
Elijah 1
Elizah 1
Ephraime 1
Ezekeill 1
Fielding 1
Fred. 1
Hy. 1
Isaiah 1
J.U. 1
Leonard 1
Young 1

FAQ

Gowers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gowers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 815 people were recorded with the Gowers surname. That placed it at #4,592 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gowers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,048 in 2016. That gives Gowers a modern rank of #5,561.

What does the Gowers surname mean?

An English surname derived from one who lived near the gorse bushes.

What does the Gowers map show?

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