NameCensus.

UK surname

Gowing

A name derived from the Old English word for "wanderer" or "vagabond".

In the 1881 census there were 737 people recorded with the Gowing surname, ranking it #4,971 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,107, ranked #5,309, down from #4,971 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Great Yarmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Eden and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gowing is 1,136 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.2%.

1881 census count

737

Ranked #4,971

Modern count

1,107

2016, ranked #5,309

Peak year

1911

1,136 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gowing had 737 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,971 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016, ranked #5,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gowing surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gowing surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gowing 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 499 #5,242
1881 historical 737 #4,971
1891 historical 815 #4,964
1901 historical 1,020 #4,679
1911 historical 1,136 #4,098
1997 modern 1,078 #5,166
1998 modern 1,099 #5,270
1999 modern 1,098 #5,289
2000 modern 1,117 #5,205
2001 modern 1,090 #5,208
2002 modern 1,118 #5,217
2003 modern 1,090 #5,218
2004 modern 1,098 #5,192
2005 modern 1,077 #5,229
2006 modern 1,046 #5,367
2007 modern 1,064 #5,326
2008 modern 1,049 #5,436
2009 modern 1,079 #5,410
2010 modern 1,098 #5,444
2011 modern 1,094 #5,401
2012 modern 1,069 #5,415
2013 modern 1,132 #5,243
2014 modern 1,135 #5,267
2015 modern 1,119 #5,273
2016 modern 1,107 #5,309

Geography

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Where Gowings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Great Yarmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Eden, Waveney and Great Yarmouth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
4 London parishes London 2
5 Great Yarmouth Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 009 South Norfolk
2 Eden 007 Eden
3 Waveney 008 Waveney
4 Great Yarmouth 011 Great Yarmouth
5 Waveney 007 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gowing

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gowing

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gowing, 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 Gowing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gowing 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gowing is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gowing 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gowing

The surname Gowing is of English origin, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gowan," meaning "daisy" or "daisy flower." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or an occupational name for someone who worked with daisies or lived in an area where daisies were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gowing is found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, where it appears as "Gowynge." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Other early spellings included "Gowinge," "Gowynge," and "Gowinge."

The Gowing surname has been associated with various regions in England, particularly Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Some early bearers of the name were likely connected to these areas, which were known for their fertile lands and agricultural traditions.

In the 14th century, the Gowing surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, suggesting that the family had established roots in that region. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of surnames during that period.

Notable historical figures with the Gowing surname include:

1. Thomas Gowing (c. 1550-1621), an English Protestant reformer and minister who served as the rector of St. Faith's Church in London. 2. John Gowing (1647-1724), a British landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Andover from 1701 to 1708. 3. William Gowing (1737-1800), an English artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. 4. Mary Gowing (1763-1840), a British author and poet who published several works, including "The Poetical Remains of Mary Gowing" in 1838. 5. Edward Gowing (1790-1866), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including the St. Thomas Church in London.

The surname Gowing has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Gowing Lane in Norwich, Norfolk, and Gowing Court in Chelmsford, Essex. These place names further emphasize the historical presence and significance of the Gowing family in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gowing families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gowing 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. Norfolk leads with 214 Gowings recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.39x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 214 19.39x
Suffolk 179 20.47x
Middlesex 96 1.34x
Essex 33 2.33x
Gloucestershire 31 2.20x
Yorkshire 31 0.44x
Surrey 30 0.86x
Durham 23 1.08x
Kent 14 0.57x
Cornwall 12 1.48x
Hertfordshire 9 1.82x
Sussex 9 0.74x
Warwickshire 9 0.50x
Hampshire 8 0.54x
Somerset 8 0.69x
Wiltshire 8 1.26x
Devon 6 0.40x
Anglesey 3 2.36x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Worcestershire 3 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 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. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 47 Gowings recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.77x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 47 113.77x
Great Yarmouth 27 29.53x
Mulbarton 18 1417.32x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 18 569.62x
Cookley 17 3269.23x
Kensington London 16 4.01x
Sprowston 15 308.01x
Kenwyn 12 56.44x
Ripon 12 72.68x
Islington London 11 1.58x
St Pancras London 11 1.90x
Streatham 11 20.65x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 33.70x
West Ham 10 3.20x
Elstree 9 552.15x
Hartlepool 9 29.64x
Ilketshall St Andrew 9 775.86x
Tooting Graveney 9 92.50x
Clerkenwell London 8 4.72x
Haddiscoe 8 824.74x
Helmingham 8 952.38x
Nayland 8 360.36x
Salisbury St Thomas 8 159.05x
Beccles 7 49.75x
Framsden 7 360.82x
Homersfield 7 2000.00x
Kirkley 7 95.63x
Portsea 7 2.43x
Starston 7 560.00x
Watton 7 201.73x
Dickleburgh 6 294.12x
Mangotsfield 6 42.74x
Poplar London 6 4.43x
Redenhall 6 139.86x
Stockton On Tees 6 5.83x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 51.28x
Throston 6 146.34x
Westbury On Trym 6 12.58x
Westerleigh 6 189.87x
Wingfield 6 526.32x
Banham 5 177.94x
Billockby 5 3125.00x
Chelsea London 5 2.31x
Colchester Holy Trinity 5 159.24x
Ditchingham 5 189.39x
Hempnall 5 230.41x
Holy Trinity 5 2.92x
Hove 5 9.41x
Keighley 5 6.59x
Lewisham 5 3.83x
Shoreditch London 5 1.61x
St Marylebone London 5 1.30x
Tharston 5 543.48x
Trunch 5 450.45x
Wingham 5 176.68x
Boyton 4 588.24x
Bristol St Peter 4 79.37x
Brockdish 4 373.83x
Buxton 4 291.97x
Colchester St James 4 69.69x
Gillingham 4 360.36x
Hampstead London 4 3.58x
Harting 4 126.98x
Heigham 4 6.75x
Leiston 4 66.56x
Mile End 4 154.44x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.62x
Rodden 4 930.23x
Snitterfield 4 200.00x
Stapleton 4 14.98x
Stoke Damerel 4 3.82x
Wheatacre All Sts 4 1142.86x
Wiston 4 851.06x
Bermondsey 3 1.40x
Kidderminster Borough 3 5.47x
Leyton Low 3 10.41x
Mirfield 3 7.68x
Norwich St James 3 34.64x
Uggeshall 3 491.80x
Whatfield 3 441.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 47
John 39
William 34
James 25
Henry 23
Frederick 16
Charles 15
Samuel 14
Robert 13
Walter 12
Arthur 10
Harry 8
Thomas 8
Albert 6
Francis 6
Alfred 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Frederic 3
Geo. 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Augustus 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Infant 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Alf 1
Alf.Jas. 1
Baron 1
Ben 1
Bruty 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Ephraim 1
Fred 1
Fred.A. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Herbett 1
Horace 1
Jas.D. 1
Jeremiah 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Gowing surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gowing surname in 1881?

In 1881, 737 people were recorded with the Gowing surname. That placed it at #4,971 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gowing surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016. That gives Gowing a modern rank of #5,309.

What does the Gowing surname mean?

A name derived from the Old English word for "wanderer" or "vagabond".

What does the Gowing map show?

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