NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowell

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Lowell surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 178, ranked #21,160, down from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alton, Wolstanton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blane Valley, Fairhill and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowell is 374 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.9%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

1891

374 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowell had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 374 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lowell 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 333 #7,646
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 170 #19,505
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 159 #21,007
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 174 #19,921
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 176 #20,915
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 178 #21,160

Geography

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Where Lowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alton, Wolstanton, St Pancras, Manchester and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blane Valley, Fairhill, Wyre Forest and County Durham. 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 Alton Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blane Valley Stirling
2 Fairhill South Lanarkshire
3 Wyre Forest 008 Wyre Forest
4 Wyre Forest 006 Wyre Forest
5 County Durham 020 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lowell

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lowell 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

Lowell is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lowell falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lowell

The surname Lowell has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "hlo" or "hlaw," meaning a small hill or mound, and "heal," meaning a nook or remote place. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "de Louuehull" in the Domesday Book of 1086, referring to a place in Worcestershire.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as "Louwelle," "Louwell," and "Louwelle." These variations suggest that the name was initially associated with a specific place or settlement, possibly a small hill or elevated area. Over time, it evolved into the more recognizable form of "Lowell."

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir Ralph de Lowell, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent landowner in Lancashire. Another notable figure was John Lowell, born in 1589, who was an English jurist and served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the 17th century.

In the United States, the Lowell family made a significant impact, with several prominent individuals bearing the surname. John Lowell (1743-1802) was a prominent lawyer and a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1779. His son, John Lowell Jr. (1769-1840), was a distinguished jurist and served as a judge on the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Another notable figure was James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He was a leading figure in the New England literary renaissance and served as the United States Minister to Spain and the United Kingdom.

The Lowell family also played a significant role in the textile industry, with Francis Cabot Lowell (1775-1817) being credited with establishing the first successful textile mill in the United States, known as the Boston Manufacturing Company. This mill was located in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, which was named after him.

Throughout history, the surname Lowell has been associated with various places, including Lowell, Massachusetts, Lowell, Indiana, and Lowell, Michigan, all of which were named after members of the Lowell family or inspired by their contributions to various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowell 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. Middlesex leads with 59 Lowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 59 2.54x
Staffordshire 31 3.96x
Lancashire 28 1.02x
Yorkshire 20 0.87x
Kent 16 2.02x
Warwickshire 16 2.73x
Devon 13 2.69x
Surrey 8 0.71x
Rutland 6 35.19x
Midlothian 5 1.61x
Cumberland 4 2.00x
Gloucestershire 4 0.88x
Leicestershire 4 1.55x
Essex 3 0.65x
Glamorgan 3 0.74x
Lincolnshire 3 0.81x
Somerset 3 0.80x
Wiltshire 2 0.97x
Angus 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Lanarkshire 1 0.13x
Monmouthshire 1 0.60x
Northamptonshire 1 0.46x
Northumberland 1 0.29x
Renfrewshire 1 0.56x
Sussex 1 0.26x
Worcestershire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley London in Middlesex leads with 12 Lowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.49x.

Place Total Index
Bromley London 12 23.49x
Islington London 11 4.89x
Aston 9 5.58x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 8 567.38x
Bethnal Green London 8 7.93x
Gillingham 8 48.99x
Ipstones 8 707.96x
Crigglestone 7 315.32x
Everton 7 7.97x
Paddington London 7 8.20x
Topsham 7 307.02x
Oakham Lordshold 6 337.08x
Stretford 6 39.58x
Wheatley 6 759.49x
Bow London 5 16.91x
Camberwell 5 3.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 4.00x
Farley 5 1315.79x
Norton In Moors 5 120.48x
Toxteth Park 5 5.36x
Birmingham 4 2.05x
Hensingham 4 245.40x
Leicester St Margaret 4 6.37x
Preston 4 5.43x
Sevenoaks 4 62.31x
Sheffield 4 5.46x
St Luke London 4 10.74x
St Pancras London 4 2.14x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 14.46x
Clee With Weelsby 3 36.90x
Exeter St Olave 3 483.87x
Roath 3 16.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 3.61x
Woodford 3 57.80x
Bristol St Augustine 2 27.21x
Chatham 2 9.18x
Chelsea London 2 2.86x
Edgbaston 2 11.02x
Semington 2 588.24x
Shoreditch London 2 1.99x
Trentham 2 29.99x
Westminster St James 2 8.38x
Aldershot 1 6.27x
Alnwick 1 16.84x
Barnsley 1 4.21x
Brighton 1 1.27x
Bristol St James In 1 14.93x
Brixham 1 17.86x
Burnham 1 35.09x
Cambuslang 1 13.21x
Caterham 1 20.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.29x
Clifton 1 4.34x
Dundee 1 1.25x
Greenwich 1 2.71x
Hampstead London 1 2.77x
Kings Norton 1 3.68x
Lambeth 1 0.49x
Lillington 1 133.33x
Liverpool 1 0.60x
Long Ashton 1 54.05x
Newport 1 12.48x
Paisley High Church 1 6.98x
Peterborough 1 6.33x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 16.08x
Skipton 1 13.81x
Stockport 1 3.79x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.53x
Upper Lower 1 555.56x
West Teignmouth 1 27.03x
Westerham 1 54.64x
Weston Super Mare 1 10.59x
Wimbledon 1 7.87x
Wolborough 1 16.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 9
Emily 7
Jane 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Margaret 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Amy 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Cecil 1
Chloe 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emely 1
Esther 1
Ethie 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Hetty 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Marianna 1
Massey 1
Matilda 1
Mrs 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Benjamin 6
John 5
Alfred 4
George 3
James 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
A.V. 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Cora 1
David 1
Duncan 1
Graham 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Phillip 1
Pownal 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Stuart 1
Williaim 1

FAQ

Lowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Lowell surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Lowell a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Lowell surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill or mound.

What does the Lowell map show?

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