NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowin

A surname derived from the Old German word "lo", meaning woods or woods clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 129 people recorded with the Lowin surname, ranking it #17,013 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 165, ranked #22,234, down from #17,013 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes and Waltham, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Suffolk Coastal and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowin is 182 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

129

Ranked #17,013

Modern count

165

2016, ranked #22,234

Peak year

2005

182 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowin had 129 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,013 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016, ranked #22,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 176 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Lowin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lowin 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 129 #17,013
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 170 #20,030
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 173 #19,834
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 182 #19,259
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 170 #21,800
2016 modern 165 #22,234

Geography

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Where Lowins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes, Waltham, Great, Portsmouth, Portsea and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Suffolk Coastal, South Cambridgeshire, Medway and Broxbourne. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Waltham, Great Essex
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal
3 South Cambridgeshire 011 South Cambridgeshire
4 Medway 010 Medway
5 Broxbourne 005 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lowin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lowin

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Lowin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lowin 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lowin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lowin is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lowin falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lowin

The surname LOWIN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "leah" and "wine," which translate to "meadow" and "friend," respectively. The name likely referred to someone who resided near or owned a meadow or who had a close association with one.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname LOWIN can be traced back to the 13th century in various parish records and tax rolls from counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Lowin, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273.

In the 14th century, the surname LOWIN appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, where it was spelled as "Lowyne." This variant spelling highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often written phonetically and were subject to regional variations.

One notable historical figure bearing the LOWIN surname was Sir John Lowin (c. 1576-1659), an English actor and theatre manager who was a member of the King's Men, the company that performed many of William Shakespeare's plays. He is particularly remembered for his portrayal of Falstaff in the Henriad plays.

Another individual of note was Thomas Lowin (1617-1672), an English clergyman and author who served as the chaplain to Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. He published several religious works, including "A Treatise of the Whole World and the Vanity Thereof" in 1650.

In the 18th century, the LOWIN surname was associated with the village of Lowin in Yorkshire, which likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname itself. One prominent individual from this time period was William Lowin (1722-1795), a British naval officer who rose to the rank of Admiral and served during the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, the name continued to appear in various records across England, with notable bearers including John Lowin (1805-1878), a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who established several textile mills in Lancashire, and Sarah Lowin (1831-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

While the LOWIN surname may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the meadows and fields of medieval England, reflecting the rich history and linguistic heritage embedded within this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lowin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowin 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 61 Lowins recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 61 4.85x
Hertfordshire 24 27.67x
Essex 12 4.83x
Kent 9 2.10x
Hampshire 6 2.33x
Bedfordshire 3 4.60x
Rutland 3 32.47x
Surrey 3 0.49x
Sussex 2 0.94x
Devon 1 0.38x
Dorset 1 1.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.41x
Northamptonshire 1 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.59x
Warwickshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 18 Lowins recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.76x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 18 14.76x
Cheshunt 17 561.06x
Enfield 10 121.07x
Great Waltham 8 792.08x
Deptford St Paul 7 21.14x
Hornsey 5 31.43x
Portsea 5 9.89x
Tewin 5 2173.91x
Bethnal Green London 4 7.32x
Bromley London 4 14.45x
Chigwell 4 170.94x
Hampstead London 4 20.41x
St Pancras London 4 3.95x
Westminster St Margaret 4 65.90x
Fulham London 3 16.44x
Luton 3 26.60x
Oakham Lordshold 3 309.28x
Bury 2 909.09x
Harpenden 2 151.52x
Stoke Newington London 2 20.41x
Apethorpe 1 1111.11x
Bristol St Peter 1 113.64x
Lambeth 1 0.91x
Lillington 1 243.90x
Margate St John Baptist 1 12.72x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 45.45x
Oxted 1 135.14x
Portsmouth 1 16.84x
Shoreditch London 1 1.83x
St John Zachary London 1 2000.00x
Tottenham 1 4.99x
West Stockwith 1 344.83x
Winterborne Stickland 1 476.19x
Woking 1 27.10x
Woolwich 1 6.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 9
James 7
George 6
John 6
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Douglas 1
Ed.Joseph 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Infant 1
Mark 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Lowin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 129 people were recorded with the Lowin surname. That placed it at #17,013 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016. That gives Lowin a modern rank of #22,234.

What does the Lowin surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old German word "lo", meaning woods or woods clearing.

What does the Lowin map show?

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