NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowe

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived on a hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 22,427 people recorded with the Lowe surname, ranking it #154 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31,627, ranked #168, down from #154 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowe is 33,317 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

22,427

Ranked #154

Modern count

31,627

2016, ranked #168

Peak year

1999

33,317 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowe had 22,427 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #154 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 31,627 in 2016, ranked #168.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30,732 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lowe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowe surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lowe 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 12,369 #202
1861 historical 12,754 #190
1881 historical 22,427 #154
1891 historical 23,788 #154
1901 historical 28,862 #141
1911 historical 30,732 #120
1997 modern 31,735 #157
1998 modern 33,088 #156
1999 modern 33,317 #157
2000 modern 33,125 #156
2001 modern 32,377 #156
2002 modern 32,967 #158
2003 modern 32,115 #158
2004 modern 32,007 #159
2005 modern 31,476 #160
2006 modern 31,318 #162
2007 modern 31,502 #163
2008 modern 31,551 #163
2009 modern 32,134 #165
2010 modern 32,591 #165
2011 modern 32,086 #166
2012 modern 31,404 #166
2013 modern 32,032 #166
2014 modern 32,217 #167
2015 modern 31,837 #168
2016 modern 31,627 #168

Geography

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Where Lowes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 018 Wigan
2 Wigan 012 Wigan
3 Wigan 013 Wigan
4 Wigan 006 Wigan
5 Wigan 008 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lowe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lowe

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lowe 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

Lowe 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

Lowe 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 Lowe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lowe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lowe

The surname Lowe originated in England, with its earliest recorded roots dating back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "hlaw," which means a small hill or mound. It was initially used as a topographic name, referring to people who lived near or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Lowe." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Lowe family was well-established in various regions of England, particularly in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Lowe," "Low," or "Lough," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Lowe was Sir Robert Lowe (1611-1679), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. Another prominent individual was John Lowe (1629-1685), an English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

As the name spread across England, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Lowe Hill in Staffordshire likely derived its name from the Lowe family who once resided there.

In the 18th century, the Lowe family produced several influential figures, including Hudson Lowe (1769-1844), a British Army officer best known for his role as the governor of St. Helena during the imprisonment of Napoleon Bonaparte. Additionally, Robert Lowe (1811-1892), a British statesman and writer, served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary in the 19th century.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Lowe Hudson Lowe (1794-1876), a British naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration of the Arctic regions.

Throughout its history, the surname Lowe has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, authors, politicians, and military figures, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lowe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowe 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. Lancashire leads with 5,934 Lowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5,934 2.28x
Staffordshire 2,216 3.00x
Middlesex 1,584 0.72x
Yorkshire 1,256 0.58x
Derbyshire 1,242 3.62x
Cheshire 1,165 2.41x
Warwickshire 1,081 1.96x
Nottinghamshire 920 3.12x
Shropshire 604 3.19x
Worcestershire 566 1.98x
Surrey 537 0.50x
Leicestershire 488 2.01x
Durham 453 0.70x
Essex 366 0.85x
Hampshire 350 0.78x
Lincolnshire 292 0.83x
Kent 280 0.37x
Lanarkshire 208 0.29x
Midlothian 193 0.66x
Norfolk 174 0.52x
Oxfordshire 168 1.24x
Gloucestershire 158 0.37x
Bedfordshire 142 1.25x
Herefordshire 110 1.23x
Buckinghamshire 106 0.80x
Northamptonshire 106 0.51x
Berkshire 105 0.64x
Angus 104 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 95 0.68x
Devon 89 0.20x
Perthshire 88 0.90x
Somerset 82 0.23x
Fife 75 0.58x
Northumberland 72 0.22x
Suffolk 70 0.26x
Glamorgan 67 0.18x
Sussex 64 0.17x
Wiltshire 63 0.33x
Ayrshire 58 0.35x
Channel Islands 58 0.89x
Hertfordshire 54 0.36x
Cumberland 48 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 43 0.21x
Monmouthshire 42 0.27x
Dorset 35 0.24x
Cornwall 33 0.13x
Stirlingshire 30 0.37x
Flintshire 27 0.46x
Rutland 25 1.55x
Montgomeryshire 24 0.48x
Renfrewshire 24 0.14x
Huntingdonshire 23 0.53x
Caithness 22 0.73x
Clackmannanshire 20 1.11x
Banffshire 17 0.37x
Denbighshire 17 0.21x
Dunbartonshire 16 0.27x
Kinross-shire 15 2.71x
Caernarfonshire 14 0.16x
Royal Navy 11 0.42x
Berwickshire 10 0.38x
Peeblesshire 10 0.97x
West Lothian 9 0.27x
Kincardineshire 8 0.30x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 8 0.11x
Radnorshire 8 0.45x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.08x
Roxburghshire 7 0.18x
Anglesey 6 0.15x
Cardiganshire 6 0.11x
East Lothian 6 0.21x
Morayshire 6 0.18x
Argyllshire 5 0.08x
Westmorland 4 0.08x
Merionethshire 3 0.07x
Wigtownshire 3 0.10x
Buteshire 2 0.15x
Brecknockshire 1 0.02x
Inverness-shire 1 0.02x
Orkney 1 0.04x
Selkirkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 432 Lowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 432 2.35x
Wigan 289 7.96x
Aston 257 1.69x
Stoke Upon Trent 221 2.82x
Ashton In Makerfield 209 28.24x
Nottingham St Mary 197 2.58x
Manchester 192 1.64x
West Bromwich 188 4.44x
Islington London 186 0.88x
Salford 185 2.42x
Kingswinford 174 6.48x
West Ham 171 1.79x
Oldham 170 2.03x
Ashton Under Lyne 169 2.98x
Warrington 158 5.13x
Liverpool 155 0.98x
Rowley Regis 152 7.38x
Ince In Makerfield 150 12.41x
Pemberton 148 14.28x
Lambeth 128 0.67x
Everton 121 1.46x
Hulme 121 2.23x
West Derby 120 1.58x
Radford 115 7.67x
Kensington London 109 0.90x
Brampton 108 22.54x
Hackney London 105 0.86x
Barton Upon Irwell 103 5.27x
Great Bolton 102 2.96x
Sedgley 101 3.68x
Leicester St Margaret 100 1.69x
St Pancras London 100 0.57x
Over Darwen 99 4.77x
Royton 98 12.33x
Gorton 97 3.97x
Camberwell 96 0.69x
Sheffield 95 1.38x
Wolverhampton 93 1.64x
Heaton Norris 91 6.15x
Toxteth Park 91 1.03x
Ardwick 90 3.84x
Walsall Foreign 90 2.36x
Chesterfield 88 6.85x
Little Bolton 88 2.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 87 2.11x
Brightside Bierlow 82 1.93x
Shoreditch London 82 0.86x
Beeston 81 23.88x
Leek Lowe 81 8.24x
Denton 80 13.89x
Ecclesall Bierlow 79 1.79x
Hindley 79 7.13x
Mile End Old Town London 78 1.67x
Westhoughton 78 11.25x
Chelsea London 76 1.15x
Lilleshall 76 26.28x
Wednesbury 76 4.11x
Leeds 71 0.58x
Preston 71 1.02x
Dukinfield 70 3.13x
Elton 69 7.69x
Wrockwardine 69 16.58x
St Marylebone London 68 0.58x
Chorley 66 4.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 66 0.56x
Oldbury 61 4.34x
Derby St Werburgh 59 2.98x
Golborne 59 17.42x
Pendleton In Salford 59 1.91x
Wolstanton 58 2.58x
Handsworth 57 3.13x
Monks Coppenhall 57 3.12x
Wombridge 57 24.40x
Stockport 56 2.25x
Clerkenwell London 55 1.06x
Kidderminster Borough 55 3.29x
Kirkby In Ashfield 53 16.79x
Burton Upon Trent 52 3.01x
St George Hanover Square 51 1.32x
Hyde 50 3.51x
Litchurch 50 3.62x
Stone 50 5.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,576
Elizabeth 882
Sarah 876
Ann 450
Jane 430
Alice 393
Ellen 357
Annie 321
Emma 317
Eliza 286
Margaret 258
Hannah 255
Martha 234
Emily 229
Harriet 137
Maria 136
Louisa 130
Charlotte 121
Fanny 118
Ada 117
Catherine 116
Florence 113
Edith 106
Anne 104
Lucy 98
Clara 91
Frances 91
Caroline 86
Harriett 77
Kate 74
Amelia 65
Esther 62
Gertrude 58
Isabella 57
Agnes 54
Susannah 51
Jessie 44
Rose 44
Betsy 42
Amy 40
Rebecca 40
Julia 39
Susan 39
Elizth. 38
Minnie 38
Matilda 37
Sophia 35
Rachel 33
Ethel 32
Lydia 32

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,304
John 1,268
Thomas 820
James 781
George 686
Joseph 469
Henry 405
Charles 387
Samuel 257
Robert 246
Edward 228
Arthur 200
Alfred 189
Richard 175
Frederick 155
Albert 145
Walter 138
Harry 102
Benjamin 92
Peter 92
Frank 88
Herbert 88
Ernest 75
David 73
Edwin 70
Francis 63
Wm. 56
Thos. 47
Daniel 41
Fred 36
Abraham 35
Isaac 35
Matthew 33
Fredrick 32
Fredk. 30
Ralph 30
Alexander 28
Moses 24
Andrew 22
Enoch 21
Chas. 20
Christopher 20
Percy 20
Elijah 19
Jesse 19
Jonathan 19
Joshua 17
Geo. 16
Stephen 16
Jno. 15

FAQ

Lowe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22,427 people were recorded with the Lowe surname. That placed it at #154 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 31,627 in 2016. That gives Lowe a modern rank of #168.

What does the Lowe surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived on a hill or mound.

What does the Lowe map show?

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