NameCensus.

UK surname

Gowler

A surname denoting a person who herded animals, particularly cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 245 people recorded with the Gowler surname, ranking it #11,232 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 391, ranked #12,073, down from #11,232 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gowler is 440 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

245

Ranked #11,232

Modern count

391

2016, ranked #12,073

Peak year

2010

440 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gowler had 245 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,232 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 391 in 2016, ranked #12,073.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 389 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gowler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gowler surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gowler 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 245 #11,232
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 329 #10,927
1911 historical 389 #9,470
1997 modern 411 #10,782
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 420 #11,035
2000 modern 413 #11,142
2001 modern 401 #11,214
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 408 #11,117
2005 modern 402 #11,137
2006 modern 397 #11,317
2007 modern 391 #11,570
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 420 #11,266
2010 modern 440 #11,101
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 404 #11,814
2016 modern 391 #12,073

Geography

Back to top

Where Gowlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist, West Ham,Wanstead and Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
4 West Ham,Wanstead Essex
5 Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 011 Fenland
2 Fenland 003 Fenland
3 Fenland 010 Fenland
4 Fenland 005 Fenland
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gowler

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gowler

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gowler 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

Gowler is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gowler falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gowler

The surname GOWLER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gol," meaning "shouting" or "bawling," suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a particularly loud voice or who was prone to yelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GOWLER surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1275, where a person named Willelmus le Goulere is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Goulere," provides insight into the surname's evolution and the potential influence of Norman French on its pronunciation and spelling.

During the 14th century, the GOWLER name appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, with various spellings such as "Gowlere," "Goulere," and "Goulare" documented in historic records from that era.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the GOWLER surname was John Gowler, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of Bristol between 1520 and 1580. His name is mentioned in several city records and documents related to trade and civic affairs.

Another noteworthy figure was Edward Gowler, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived from 1570 to 1642. He served as a Member of Parliament for Andover and later became a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the GOWLER surname was associated with the village of Gowlor in Worcestershire, which likely derived its name from the same Old English root. This place name connection further reinforces the surname's origin and potential meaning.

During the 18th century, a notable bearer of the GOWLER name was Samuel Gowler, a writer and clergyman who lived from 1720 to 1784. He published several works on religion and philosophy, including "An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs" and "The Christian Manual."

In the 19th century, a prominent figure was William Gowler, a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Stafford from 1832 to 1835. He was born in 1790 and died in 1872.

Throughout its history, the GOWLER surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the Midlands and the West Country. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, the name has persisted and evolved over centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of English culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gowler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gowler 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 66 Gowlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.60x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 66 43.60x
Huntingdonshire 59 124.34x
Hertfordshire 18 10.93x
Middlesex 18 0.75x
Essex 17 3.60x
Northamptonshire 10 4.45x
Norfolk 9 2.45x
Yorkshire 9 0.38x
Lancashire 7 0.25x
Durham 6 0.84x
Lincolnshire 6 1.57x
Surrey 6 0.52x
Staffordshire 5 0.62x
Cheshire 2 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.41x
Kent 2 0.25x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Suffolk 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 55 Gowlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1424.87x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 55 1424.87x
Somersham 20 1739.13x
Cheshunt 18 312.50x
Ramsey 17 447.37x
West Ham 14 13.44x
Houghton 9 2142.86x
Upwell 9 526.32x
March 8 157.79x
Heaton Norris 7 43.37x
St George In East London 7 31.14x
Bury 6 2068.97x
Fen Stanton 6 689.66x
Gedney 6 384.62x
Standground 6 555.56x
Stranton 6 25.07x
Hook 5 95.97x
Wednesbury 5 24.80x
Fulham London 4 11.54x
Chelsea London 3 4.17x
Croydon 3 4.64x
Gomersal 3 27.15x
Kensington London 3 2.26x
Waltham Holy Cross 3 68.03x
Wellingborough 3 26.55x
Aston 2 1.21x
Brading 2 30.72x
Camberwell 2 1.31x
Outwell 2 714.29x
Ashley 1 322.58x
Haworth 1 17.76x
Hemingford Grey 1 136.99x
Lewisham 1 2.30x
Monks Coppenhall 1 5.02x
Newmarket St Mary 1 44.84x
Peterborough 1 6.15x
Putney 1 9.18x
Southfleet 1 131.58x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.37x
Thorney 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Emma 8
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Martha 7
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Julia 2
Naomi 2
Rose 2
Adelaide 1
Adelina 1
Agnes 1
Alma 1
Anne 1
Dora 1
Elisabeth 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Janie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Naoma 1
Pheobe 1
Polly 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 12
George 11
Charles 10
Thomas 9
Robert 7
James 6
Alfred 3
Auther 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Abraham 1
Absolem 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hiram 1
Israel 1
Jim 1
Jno. 1
Joab 1
Joseph 1
Oakey 1
Pedley 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Theophilus 1

FAQ

Gowler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gowler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 245 people were recorded with the Gowler surname. That placed it at #11,232 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gowler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 391 in 2016. That gives Gowler a modern rank of #12,073.

What does the Gowler surname mean?

A surname denoting a person who herded animals, particularly cattle.

What does the Gowler map show?

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