NameCensus.

UK surname

Howse

An occupational surname denoting someone who lived or worked in a house or building, as opposed to a cottage.

In the 1881 census there were 1,171 people recorded with the Howse surname, ranking it #3,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,307, ranked #4,583, down from #3,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Oxford City: St Giles and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Slough, Wiltshire and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howse is 1,483 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.6%.

1881 census count

1,171

Ranked #3,443

Modern count

1,307

2016, ranked #4,583

Peak year

1999

1,483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howse had 1,171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016, ranked #4,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,421 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Howse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Howse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howse 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 1,083 #2,594
1861 historical 717 #3,795
1881 historical 1,171 #3,443
1891 historical 1,138 #3,740
1901 historical 1,421 #3,566
1911 historical 1,372 #3,503
1997 modern 1,353 #4,251
1998 modern 1,467 #4,126
1999 modern 1,483 #4,124
2000 modern 1,458 #4,156
2001 modern 1,429 #4,147
2002 modern 1,425 #4,233
2003 modern 1,372 #4,290
2004 modern 1,381 #4,278
2005 modern 1,346 #4,319
2006 modern 1,343 #4,333
2007 modern 1,351 #4,352
2008 modern 1,324 #4,440
2009 modern 1,331 #4,515
2010 modern 1,375 #4,473
2011 modern 1,364 #4,449
2012 modern 1,308 #4,551
2013 modern 1,327 #4,565
2014 modern 1,332 #4,577
2015 modern 1,309 #4,600
2016 modern 1,307 #4,583

Geography

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Where Howses are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Slough, Wiltshire and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Slough 006 Slough
2 Wiltshire 001 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 003 Wiltshire
4 Wiltshire 004 Wiltshire
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 014 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howse

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Howse is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Howse 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

Howse falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Howse

The surname Howse originated in England, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hus," meaning "house" or "dwelling." This name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who lived in a prominent or distinctive house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Howse can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1195, which mention a "Richard de la Howse." The Pipe Rolls were a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, suggesting that the Howse name had already become established in medieval England by the late 12th century.

The Howse name also appears in various medieval manuscripts and records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which list a "William atte Howse." The use of the preposition "atte" in this entry indicates that the name likely referred to a specific house or dwelling at that time.

In the 15th century, the Howse surname can be found in the records of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York, which mention a "John Howse" in 1436. This suggests that the name was present in Yorkshire and other northern regions of England during this period.

One notable individual with the Howse surname was Sir John Howse (1480-1547), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire and held various other positions in local government.

Another prominent figure was Sir Randolph Howse (1644-1711), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1705. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and played a significant role in the governance of the City of London.

In the 18th century, the Howse name was associated with the English botanist and explorer Joseph Whidbey (1757-1833), who participated in several voyages of exploration to the Pacific Northwest region of North America. He named several geographical features, including Whidbey Island in present-day Washington state, after his friend, Joseph Howse.

The Reverend John Howse (1777-1858) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religious subjects. He served as the rector of Merton College, Oxford, and was also a canon of Christ Church Cathedral.

In the 19th century, Sir John Howse (1813-1899) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal College of Music in London and the Town Hall in Eastbourne.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howse 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. Oxfordshire leads with 255 Howses recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.55x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 255 36.55x
Middlesex 94 0.83x
Gloucestershire 84 3.79x
Wiltshire 84 8.41x
Buckinghamshire 81 11.86x
Surrey 77 1.40x
Warwickshire 71 2.49x
Staffordshire 70 1.84x
Worcestershire 49 3.32x
Berkshire 43 5.07x
Somerset 38 2.09x
Kent 33 0.86x
Norfolk 26 1.50x
Yorkshire 24 0.21x
Sussex 23 1.21x
Hampshire 16 0.69x
Lancashire 16 0.12x
Essex 14 0.63x
Lincolnshire 12 0.66x
Northumberland 12 0.71x
Hertfordshire 11 1.41x
Cheshire 9 0.36x
Monmouthshire 6 0.73x
Bedfordshire 3 0.51x
Northamptonshire 2 0.19x
Devon 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Herefordshire 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upton Cum Chalvey in Buckinghamshire leads with 49 Howses recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.08x.

Place Total Index
Upton Cum Chalvey 49 180.08x
Birmingham 36 3.79x
Cowley 34 156.18x
Cricklade St Sampson 22 473.12x
Latton 22 2156.86x
Lambeth 20 2.03x
Aston 18 2.29x
Shipton On Cherwell 18 4090.91x
Datchet 16 342.61x
Wigginton 16 1568.63x
Bicester Market End 14 109.29x
Bedminster 13 7.61x
Brighton 13 3.38x
White Ladies Aston 13 1074.38x
Battersea 12 2.89x
Islington London 12 1.10x
Milton Under Wychwood 12 371.52x
St Pancras London 12 1.32x
West Ham 12 2.44x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 11 133.01x
Oxford St Thomas 11 33.79x
Thame 11 86.68x
Cheltenham 10 5.85x
Hemel Hempstead 10 28.51x
Spelsbury 10 473.93x
Westbury On Trym 10 13.32x
Brewood 9 81.89x
Burford 9 148.76x
Dudley 9 5.02x
Elmley Castle 9 625.00x
Leafield 9 326.09x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 13.34x
Oxford St Giles 9 27.04x
Pewsey 9 122.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 3.96x
West Bromwich 9 4.12x
Castle Rising 8 592.59x
Cirencester 8 26.68x
Eastbourne 8 9.13x
Keyingham 8 327.87x
Oddington 8 412.37x
Purton 8 89.99x
Smallburgh 8 390.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 1.98x
Bromley 7 11.92x
Byker 7 8.43x
Great Rissington 7 437.50x
Kensington London 7 1.11x
Lewisham 7 3.41x
Ombersley 7 85.16x
Stogursey 7 143.44x
West Wickham 7 188.17x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 6 44.91x
Bilston 6 8.12x
Chilworth 6 2068.97x
Clapham 6 4.25x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.25x
Cumnor 6 153.45x
Denchworth 6 681.82x
Dorchester 6 153.06x
Heythrop 6 618.56x
Kings Norton 6 4.54x
Kingswinford 6 4.33x
Langley Marish 6 71.60x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 12.60x
Maiseyhampton 6 458.02x
Richmond 6 7.78x
South Moreton 6 472.44x
St Luke London 6 3.31x
Toxteth Park 6 1.32x
Wantage 6 44.38x
Witney 6 51.41x
Wolverhampton 6 2.05x
Goring 5 125.31x
Ham Kingston On Thames 5 206.61x
Havant 5 42.66x
Monks Coppenhall 5 5.31x
Rugby 5 12.97x
Sutton St Mary St James 5 234.74x
Williton 5 82.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 79
John 49
Henry 41
Thomas 41
Charles 33
James 32
George 30
Alfred 21
Richard 19
Robert 13
Edward 12
Frederick 12
Harry 12
Arthur 10
Joseph 9
Albert 8
Ernest 8
Frank 8
Edwin 7
Walter 7
Daniel 6
Herbert 6
Edmund 5
Francis 5
Samuel 5
Stephen 5
Wm. 4
David 3
Elijah 3
Fred 3
Percy 3
Fredrick 2
Jeremiah 2
Laurence 2
Mark 2
Philip 2
Tom 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Earnest 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Arthur 1
Jos. 1
Josh. 1
Lennoy 1
Leonard 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Howse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,171 people were recorded with the Howse surname. That placed it at #3,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016. That gives Howse a modern rank of #4,583.

What does the Howse surname mean?

An occupational surname denoting someone who lived or worked in a house or building, as opposed to a cottage.

What does the Howse map show?

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