NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowery

Derived from a place name meaning "low-lying area" or "small hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 977 people recorded with the Lowery surname, ranking it #3,981 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,328, ranked #2,802, up from #3,981 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Pittington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Gateshead and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowery is 2,416 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.3%.

1881 census count

977

Ranked #3,981

Modern count

2,328

2016, ranked #2,802

Peak year

2010

2,416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowery had 977 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,981 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,328 in 2016, ranked #2,802.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,726 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lowery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowery surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lowery 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 412 #6,237
1881 historical 977 #3,981
1891 historical 1,052 #3,988
1901 historical 1,461 #3,493
1911 historical 1,726 #2,838
1997 modern 2,225 #2,791
1998 modern 2,282 #2,829
1999 modern 2,319 #2,803
2000 modern 2,305 #2,798
2001 modern 2,253 #2,801
2002 modern 2,350 #2,757
2003 modern 2,242 #2,816
2004 modern 2,289 #2,763
2005 modern 2,250 #2,773
2006 modern 2,233 #2,797
2007 modern 2,230 #2,820
2008 modern 2,254 #2,818
2009 modern 2,343 #2,786
2010 modern 2,416 #2,770
2011 modern 2,388 #2,767
2012 modern 2,325 #2,783
2013 modern 2,341 #2,812
2014 modern 2,363 #2,798
2015 modern 2,334 #2,806
2016 modern 2,328 #2,802

Geography

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Where Lowerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Pittington, Middlesborough and Chester-le-Street. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Gateshead 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Pittington Durham
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 Chester-le-Street Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
3 County Durham 017 County Durham
4 Gateshead 003 Gateshead
5 County Durham 011 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lowery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lowery

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lowery 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

Lowery is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lowery 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 Lowery 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 Lowery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lowery

The surname Lowery has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Lowrie, which is a township in the parish of Wilton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name Lowrie is derived from the Old English words "hlaw" meaning a hill or mound, and "rīg" meaning a ridge.

In the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, the place name Lowrie is recorded as "Lofri" and "Lofric." This suggests that the surname Lowery may have originated from this area and been adopted by families residing there.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lowery can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Robertus de Louri is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

Sir Richard Lowery (c. 1570 - 1610) was an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1606. He was a prominent figure in the City of London and played a significant role in the East India Company's early trade activities.

Another notable individual with this surname was John Lowery (1781 - 1865), an American politician who served as the 6th Governor of Delaware from 1851 to 1855.

In the literary world, Robert Lowery (1765 - 1834) was an English poet and engraver, known for his work "The Pleasures of Friendship" published in 1810.

Reverend George Taylor Lowery (1819 - 1899) was an American Methodist clergyman and author, who wrote several books on religious topics, including "Positive Theology" and "The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit."

Sir Charles Humphrey Lowery (1851 - 1928) was a British civil servant and author, who served as the Secretary to the Government of India and authored several books on Indian history and culture.

These examples demonstrate the widespread presence of the surname Lowery across different fields and time periods, reflecting its enduring legacy originating from the medieval period in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lowery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowery 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. Durham leads with 438 Lowerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.48x.

County Total Index
Durham 438 15.48x
Yorkshire 153 1.62x
Lancashire 83 0.74x
Cumberland 59 7.21x
Northumberland 53 3.75x
Lincolnshire 46 3.02x
Middlesex 29 0.30x
Cheshire 18 0.86x
Staffordshire 16 0.50x
Lanarkshire 14 0.46x
Derbyshire 12 0.81x
Leicestershire 12 1.14x
Monmouthshire 10 1.45x
Kent 7 0.22x
Devon 6 0.30x
Surrey 6 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.23x
Suffolk 3 0.26x
Wiltshire 2 0.24x
Bedfordshire 1 0.20x
Caithness 1 0.77x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 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. East Rainton in Durham leads with 31 Lowerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 565.69x.

Place Total Index
East Rainton 31 565.69x
Houghton Le Spring 30 153.37x
Sherburn 30 348.43x
Gateshead 28 13.22x
Lamesley 23 151.02x
Bishopwearmouth 19 7.82x
Southcoates 19 36.32x
Waldridge 18 379.75x
Birkenhead 16 9.56x
Tanfield 16 47.55x
Cocken 15 847.46x
Sculcoates 15 10.04x
Stanhope 15 51.33x
Newbottle 14 90.61x
Barony 12 1.54x
Boston 12 26.01x
Liverpool 12 1.75x
Ryhope 12 61.10x
Selby 12 60.91x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 11 13.01x
Tunstall 11 78.07x
Chester Le Street 10 46.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 5.58x
Holy Trinity 10 4.41x
Leeds 10 1.88x
Linthorpe 10 17.78x
Manchester 10 1.97x
Shadforth 10 182.15x
Winlaton 10 36.83x
Kyo 9 67.57x
Llanwenarth Ultra 9 179.28x
Mile End Old Town London 9 4.45x
Mirfield 9 17.39x
Normanby In 9 35.71x
Cleator 8 23.47x
Everton 8 2.22x
Sheffield 8 2.67x
Thornaby 8 22.71x
Urpeth 8 145.19x
West Derby 8 2.42x
Whickham 8 30.72x
Allendale 7 53.35x
Bradford 7 3.07x
Egremont 7 35.86x
Heaton 7 148.94x
Hetton Le Hole 7 19.52x
Sandwith 7 578.51x
St Luke London 7 4.59x
St Michael Lincoln 7 169.90x
Sunderland Bridge 7 155.90x
Tudhoe 7 28.27x
Whitworth 7 33.78x
Witton Gilbert 7 62.67x
Aylestone 6 72.20x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.91x
Bishop Auckland 6 15.81x
Dawdon 6 17.24x
Great Grimsby 6 6.22x
Hedleyhope 6 122.45x
Marsh Chapel 6 320.86x
Middlesbrough 6 4.89x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 10.86x
Plumstead 6 5.55x
Stockton On Tees 6 4.40x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.76x
Beard 5 103.31x
Farnworth 5 7.39x
Hackney London 5 0.94x
Ilfracombe 5 24.53x
Leicester St Mary 5 5.87x
Lynesack Softley 5 65.45x
Manby 5 833.33x
Marwood 5 781.25x
Otley 5 21.85x
Pittington 5 62.81x
Preston 5 1.66x
Preston Quarter 5 21.79x
Prudhoe 5 50.81x
Sunderland 5 10.01x
Sutton 5 13.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 103
Elizabeth 42
Ann 34
Margaret 29
Sarah 25
Jane 23
Isabella 17
Ellen 15
Annie 14
Hannah 13
Catherine 11
Emma 8
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Eliza 6
Frances 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Ruth 3
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Christianna 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Priscilla 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Annatta 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellenor 1
Janet 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 83
Thomas 55
William 50
George 38
Joseph 37
James 36
Robert 34
Henry 12
Edward 11
Patrick 8
Charles 7
Isaac 7
Peter 7
Frederick 6
Ralph 6
Richard 6
Thos. 6
Walter 5
Geo. 4
Michael 4
Philip 3
Robt. 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Francis 2
Jas. 2
Michal 2
Nicholas 2
Richd. 2
Allen 1
Bernard 1
Chrisopher 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Nixon 1
Obed 1
Oliver 1
Osborne 1

FAQ

Lowery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 977 people were recorded with the Lowery surname. That placed it at #3,981 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,328 in 2016. That gives Lowery a modern rank of #2,802.

What does the Lowery surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "low-lying area" or "small hill" in Old English.

What does the Lowery map show?

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