NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowden

A locational surname originating from a place called Lowden or Lowdon in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 984 people recorded with the Lowden surname, ranking it #3,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,106, ranked #5,314, down from #3,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Ardler and St Marys and The Glens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowden is 1,230 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

984

Ranked #3,955

Modern count

1,106

2016, ranked #5,314

Peak year

1999

1,230 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowden had 984 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016, ranked #5,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,208 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lowden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lowden 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 604 #4,255
1861 historical 587 #4,504
1881 historical 984 #3,955
1891 historical 982 #4,208
1901 historical 1,208 #4,080
1911 historical 1,021 #4,473
1997 modern 1,164 #4,846
1998 modern 1,197 #4,889
1999 modern 1,230 #4,816
2000 modern 1,188 #4,952
2001 modern 1,160 #4,955
2002 modern 1,185 #4,956
2003 modern 1,150 #4,991
2004 modern 1,156 #4,978
2005 modern 1,124 #5,044
2006 modern 1,103 #5,132
2007 modern 1,119 #5,112
2008 modern 1,138 #5,073
2009 modern 1,165 #5,068
2010 modern 1,202 #5,037
2011 modern 1,171 #5,087
2012 modern 1,133 #5,158
2013 modern 1,131 #5,254
2014 modern 1,127 #5,296
2015 modern 1,099 #5,356
2016 modern 1,106 #5,314

Geography

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Where Lowdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Plympton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Ardler and St Marys and The Glens. 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 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Plympton St Mary Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
2 Ardler and St Marys Dundee City
3 Sunderland 017 Sunderland
4 The Glens Dundee City
5 Sunderland 007 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lowden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lowden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lowden, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lowden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lowden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lowden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lowden 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

Lowden falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lowden

The surname Lowden is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hlāw," meaning a small hill or mound, combined with the suffix "-dun," which refers to a hill or fortified place. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name, possibly referring to someone who lived near or on a small hill or fortified mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Louueden." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the time of the Norman Conquest and the compilation of the renowned survey of land and property in England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Louweden" and "Lowedon," reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. During this period, the name was also associated with certain place names, such as Lowden in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the surname's spread and adoption.

Notable individuals bearing the Lowden surname throughout history include Sir Robert Lowden (1519-1588), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in London. Another prominent figure was William Lowden (1662-1734), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen.

In the 19th century, John Lowden (1815-1892), a Scottish architect and civil engineer, made significant contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Edinburgh. Additionally, James Lowden (1857-1936), an American politician and businessman, served as the 25th Governor of Illinois from 1917 to 1921.

One of the most recent historical figures with the Lowden surname was Frank Orren Lowden (1861-1943), an American lawyer, businessman, and Republican politician. He served as the 25th Governor of Illinois from 1917 to 1921 and was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1920 and 1924.

While the Lowden surname has its roots in England, it has spread and been adopted in various parts of the world, reflecting the migrations and movements of people throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lowden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowden 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. Angus leads with 246 Lowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.72x.

County Total Index
Angus 246 27.72x
Durham 81 2.84x
Yorkshire 77 0.81x
Cumberland 71 8.61x
Middlesex 71 0.74x
Lancashire 66 0.58x
Surrey 66 1.41x
Devon 42 2.11x
Northumberland 30 2.10x
Lincolnshire 27 1.76x
Fife 24 4.23x
Aberdeenshire 18 2.03x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 11.54x
Perthshire 16 3.72x
Midlothian 15 1.17x
Kent 11 0.34x
Cheshire 9 0.43x
Lanarkshire 8 0.26x
Westmorland 8 3.80x
Norfolk 7 0.48x
Dumfriesshire 6 2.84x
Staffordshire 6 0.19x
Suffolk 5 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.66x
Essex 4 0.21x
Glamorgan 4 0.24x
Gloucestershire 4 0.21x
Hertfordshire 4 0.61x
Leicestershire 4 0.38x
Renfrewshire 4 0.54x
Sussex 4 0.25x
Warwickshire 4 0.17x
Derbyshire 3 0.20x
Hampshire 3 0.15x
Kincardineshire 3 2.57x
Bedfordshire 2 0.40x
Channel Islands 2 0.70x
Somerset 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Ross-shire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 0.88x
Rutland 1 1.42x
Stirlingshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 102 Lowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.79x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 102 30.79x
Liff Benvie 46 34.14x
Kirriemuir 20 91.32x
Cupar 19 77.05x
St Vigeans 18 37.58x
Bethnal Green London 15 3.60x
Cockermouth 15 86.41x
Bridekirk 14 212.44x
Cortachy 13 1171.17x
Camberwell 12 1.96x
Kirkleatham 12 93.60x
Pontefract 11 53.79x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 6.02x
Bermondsey 10 3.51x
Bishopwearmouth 10 4.09x
Caldewgate 10 22.13x
Gateshead 10 4.69x
Lambeth 10 1.20x
St Pancras London 10 1.30x
Clapham 9 7.52x
Coundon Grange 9 144.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.74x
Hampstead London 9 6.03x
Leeds 9 1.68x
Plympton St Mary 9 78.06x
Prudhoe 9 90.73x
Dukinfield 8 8.19x
Heysham 8 386.47x
Hunstonworth 8 484.85x
Newhills 8 44.03x
Pittington 8 99.88x
Puddington 8 1126.76x
Salter Eskat 8 1250.00x
Shotton 8 113.48x
Wandsworth 8 8.68x
Ambleside 7 107.20x
Arlecdon 7 31.92x
Meavy 7 752.69x
Montrose 7 13.02x
Wallsend 7 15.49x
Accrington 6 5.81x
Airlie 6 210.53x
Huddersfield 6 4.34x
Mains 6 79.58x
Oughterside Allerby 6 363.64x
Reigate Borough 6 55.76x
Somerby In Grantham 6 153.85x
Stone In Dartford 6 71.60x
Tipton 6 6.06x
Arbroath 5 17.00x
Barrow In Furness 5 3.23x
Carlaverock 5 144.93x
Coundon 5 43.29x
Crowland 5 52.03x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 15.31x
Edzell 5 184.50x
Everton 5 1.38x
Forfar 5 10.41x
Forgan 5 46.04x
Formby 5 38.85x
Hanwell 5 29.45x
Holy Trinity 5 2.19x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.45x
North Shields 5 17.58x
Perth West Church 5 24.51x
Preston 5 1.64x
Scarborough 5 5.80x
Sculcoates 5 3.32x
Sherburn 5 57.67x
Tetford 5 257.73x
Urr 5 27.72x
Chopwell 4 75.47x
Glasgow 4 0.73x
Kensington London 4 0.75x
Manchester 4 0.78x
Monifieth 4 12.76x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 5.41x
Newington 4 1.13x
Walton On Hill 4 6.50x
Winlaton 4 14.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 19
Ann 17
Alice 14
Jane 12
Margaret 11
Annie 9
Hannah 8
Caroline 7
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Agnes 4
Betsy 4
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Elenor 2
Esther 2
Euphemie 2
Grace 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Sushana 2
Adelaide 1
Amanda 1
Amealea 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabeh 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Ulu 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 31
James 24
Thomas 22
George 21
Joseph 18
Robert 16
Henry 13
Charles 10
Richard 10
Edward 6
Walter 6
Albert 4
Edwin 3
Thos. 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jacob 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Seymour 2
Stuart 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Authar 1
Chas.G. 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Ellia 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Gorge 1
Harrison 1
Jeremiah 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Lowden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 984 people were recorded with the Lowden surname. That placed it at #3,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016. That gives Lowden a modern rank of #5,314.

What does the Lowden surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Lowden or Lowdon in Scotland.

What does the Lowden map show?

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