NameCensus.

UK surname

Lown

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bare hill" or "bald hill".

In the 1881 census there were 236 people recorded with the Lown surname, ranking it #11,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 448, ranked #10,842, up from #11,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Martham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Norwich, Breckland and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lown is 487 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.8%.

1881 census count

236

Ranked #11,540

Modern count

448

2016, ranked #10,842

Peak year

1911

487 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lown had 236 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016, ranked #10,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 487 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lown surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lown 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 225 #10,843
1881 historical 236 #11,540
1891 historical 413 #8,638
1901 historical 398 #9,508
1911 historical 487 #7,992
1997 modern 446 #10,142
1998 modern 455 #10,315
1999 modern 457 #10,342
2000 modern 456 #10,321
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 457 #10,314
2003 modern 457 #10,156
2004 modern 451 #10,301
2005 modern 417 #10,833
2006 modern 427 #10,683
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 441 #10,600
2009 modern 457 #10,532
2010 modern 451 #10,897
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 432 #11,015
2013 modern 448 #10,870
2014 modern 458 #10,749
2015 modern 455 #10,734
2016 modern 448 #10,842

Geography

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Where Lowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Martham, London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Norwich, Breckland, Great Yarmouth, Northumberland and Rother. 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 Martham Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Norwich 006 Norwich
2 Breckland 007 Breckland
3 Great Yarmouth 006 Great Yarmouth
4 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
5 Rother 009 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lown

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lown

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

Lown 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

Lown falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lown

The surname Lown is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "laund," which means a glade or an open space in a forest or a woodland clearing. This name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in such a clearing or open area.

The earliest recorded instances of the Lown surname date back to the 13th century. One notable example is a reference to a person named Robert de la Launde in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1230. The name is also found in various spellings, such as Laund, Lawnd, and Lawnde, in various medieval documents and records.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a John Laund is mentioned. This document, dating back to 1327, provides evidence of the surname's presence in different regions of England during that time.

The Lown surname can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Lowndes in Cheshire and Lowndes Hall in Lancashire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

One notable individual with the Lown surname was Sir William Lowndes (1652-1724), a British politician and financial expert who served as Secretary to the Treasury under King William III and Queen Anne. He played a significant role in shaping the financial policies of the time.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Lowndes (1692-1748), an English philosopher and mathematician. He made contributions to the field of mathematics and was a member of the Royal Society.

In the literary world, Robert Lowndes (1589-1666) was an English writer and clergyman who authored several religious works during the 17th century.

The Lown surname also has connections to the United States. John Lown (1777-1865) was an American educator and missionary who worked among Native American tribes in the early 19th century.

Lastly, Bernard Lown (1921-2021) was a renowned American cardiologist and inventor of the cardioverter defibrillator, a life-saving medical device. He received numerous honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 for his efforts in promoting nuclear disarmament.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lown families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lown 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. Norfolk leads with 69 Lowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.09x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 69 20.09x
Middlesex 56 2.51x
Durham 32 4.82x
Surrey 18 1.65x
Lincolnshire 11 3.08x
Essex 9 2.04x
Warwickshire 9 1.60x
Lancashire 8 0.30x
Northumberland 5 1.50x
Yorkshire 5 0.23x
Leicestershire 2 0.81x
Sussex 2 0.53x
Cumberland 1 0.52x
Derbyshire 1 0.29x
Kent 1 0.13x

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 16 Lowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 16 7.39x
Martham 16 1904.76x
Tanfield 16 202.53x
Lambeth 15 7.70x
Shoreditch London 12 12.39x
Hackney London 11 8.78x
Southwick 10 158.98x
Sheringham 9 1011.24x
Wainfleet St Mary 9 1666.67x
Colby 8 4444.44x
Egmere 8 11428.57x
Bethnal Green London 7 7.21x
Ashton In Makerfield 6 79.47x
Coventry St Michael 6 33.15x
Kyo 6 191.69x
Walthamstow 6 37.81x
Great Bircham 5 1428.57x
St Marylebone London 5 4.19x
Cley Next Sea 4 727.27x
South Lynn 4 103.09x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 14.55x
Birmingham 3 1.60x
Earsdon 3 111.11x
Felmingham 3 1000.00x
Grays Thurrock 3 73.17x
St George Hanover Square 3 7.62x
Cowpen 2 26.14x
Horley 2 109.89x
Hove 2 12.11x
Liverpool 2 1.24x
Ludham 2 327.87x
Stiffkey 2 606.06x
Stoke Newington London 2 11.49x
Wells Next Sea 2 100.00x
Banningham 1 526.32x
Battersea 1 1.22x
Clenchwarton 1 196.08x
Doncaster 1 6.18x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.51x
Hungarton 1 294.12x
Keighley 1 4.24x
Maidstone 1 4.41x
Mavis Enderby 1 909.09x
Melton Mowbray 1 22.47x
Norwich All Sts 1 344.83x
Plumbland 1 200.00x
Stamford St George 1 62.50x
Tattersett 1 625.00x
Ticknall 1 138.89x
Watton 1 92.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 13
Alice 6
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Margaret 2
Rosanna 2
Rosina 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgeanna 1
Gertrude 1
Ivy 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Patience 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rebekah 1
Rosanne 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
James 14
John 12
George 7
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Robert 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
David 3
Albert 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Burton 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fk. 1
Frances 1
Harry 1
Job 1
Joseph 1
Richd. 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Victor 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 236 people were recorded with the Lown surname. That placed it at #11,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 448 in 2016. That gives Lown a modern rank of #10,842.

What does the Lown surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bare hill" or "bald hill".

What does the Lown map show?

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