NameCensus.

UK surname

Lowndes

A surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,011 people recorded with the Lowndes surname, ranking it #3,874 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,690, ranked #3,701, up from #3,874 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Wolstanton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Salford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lowndes is 1,797 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.2%.

1881 census count

1,011

Ranked #3,874

Modern count

1,690

2016, ranked #3,701

Peak year

2000

1,797 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lowndes had 1,011 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,874 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,690 in 2016, ranked #3,701.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,618 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lowndes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lowndes surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lowndes 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 575 #4,429
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 1,011 #3,874
1891 historical 1,006 #4,124
1901 historical 1,473 #3,469
1911 historical 1,618 #3,001
1997 modern 1,478 #3,957
1998 modern 1,795 #3,453
1999 modern 1,788 #3,500
2000 modern 1,797 #3,465
2001 modern 1,766 #3,447
2002 modern 1,795 #3,462
2003 modern 1,761 #3,464
2004 modern 1,723 #3,533
2005 modern 1,727 #3,493
2006 modern 1,709 #3,530
2007 modern 1,695 #3,577
2008 modern 1,720 #3,565
2009 modern 1,740 #3,597
2010 modern 1,760 #3,630
2011 modern 1,742 #3,618
2012 modern 1,706 #3,633
2013 modern 1,739 #3,631
2014 modern 1,756 #3,610
2015 modern 1,712 #3,655
2016 modern 1,690 #3,701

Geography

Back to top

Where Lowndes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Wolstanton, Manchester, Uttoxeter, Checkley and Coppenhall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Salford, Stoke-on-Trent and East Staffordshire. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Uttoxeter, Checkley Staffordshire
5 Coppenhall Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
2 Salford 029 Salford
3 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent
4 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent 021 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lowndes

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lowndes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lowndes, 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 Lowndes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lowndes 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lowndes 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

Lowndes is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lowndes

The surname Lowndes has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English word "hlowan," meaning "a little hill or mound," suggesting that the name originally referred to someone who lived near or on a small hill.

The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire, where many early examples can be found in historical records and documents. One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire in 1199, where a certain William de Lowndes is mentioned.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, several place names containing the root "low" or "lownde" are recorded, further supporting the geographic origins of the surname.

One of the earliest and most notable individuals bearing the Lowndes name was Sir Richard Lowndes (c. 1520-1608), a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed to the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another significant figure was William Lowndes (1652-1724), an English economist and Secretary to the Treasury under King William III. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the National Debt and the Bank of England.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Mary Lowndes (1856-1944), a prolific English author known for her novels and short stories in the mystery and detective genres.

Moving into the 20th century, Ralph Lowndes (1877-1957) was a British artist and illustrator renowned for his landscape paintings and book illustrations, particularly those for the works of Thomas Hardy.

Lastly, Walter Lowndes (1905-1989) was a distinguished English cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club and represented England in Test matches during the 1930s.

Throughout its history, the surname Lowndes has maintained its connection to its geographic roots, with various spellings and place names contributing to its evolution, while also being associated with notable individuals across various fields, spanning law, economics, literature, art, and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lowndes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lowndes 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. Staffordshire leads with 265 Lowndes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.99x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 265 7.99x
Lancashire 219 1.88x
Cheshire 177 8.16x
Middlesex 62 0.63x
Derbyshire 49 3.19x
Warwickshire 31 1.25x
Yorkshire 26 0.27x
Surrey 22 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 16 2.69x
Kent 16 0.48x
Bedfordshire 10 1.97x
Devon 10 0.49x
Worcestershire 10 0.78x
Sussex 8 0.48x
Essex 7 0.36x
Durham 6 0.21x
Glamorgan 6 0.35x
Wiltshire 6 0.69x
Cumberland 5 0.59x
Dorset 5 0.78x
Montgomeryshire 5 2.22x
Renfrewshire 5 0.66x
Suffolk 5 0.42x
Northamptonshire 4 0.43x
Northumberland 4 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.15x
Hertfordshire 3 0.44x
Rutland 3 4.16x
Shropshire 3 0.35x
Berkshire 2 0.27x
Cornwall 2 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.03x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.16x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 36 Lowndes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.24x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 36 10.24x
Cheadle 30 188.44x
Gorton 30 27.38x
Barton Upon Irwell 24 27.35x
Congleton 24 64.07x
Uttoxeter 24 141.43x
Birmingham 23 2.79x
Wolstanton 21 20.85x
Ardwick 19 18.07x
Wolverhampton 19 7.45x
Wetton 18 1636.36x
Salford 17 4.96x
Clerkenwell London 16 6.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 8.10x
Macclesfield 15 15.56x
Leek Lowe 13 29.47x
Burslem 12 12.63x
Church Coppenhall 12 123.84x
Little Bolton 12 8.01x
Wednesfield 12 24.59x
Monks Coppenhall 11 13.44x
Wolstanton Chesterton 11 64.90x
Birkenhead 10 5.79x
Cannock 10 17.28x
Denston 10 671.14x
Everton 10 2.69x
Kensington London 10 1.83x
Aspley Guise 9 184.80x
Paddington London 9 2.49x
Pendleton In Salford 9 6.48x
Warrington 9 6.51x
Bow London 8 6.40x
Cartworth 8 99.38x
Ilkeston 8 18.55x
Lewisham 8 4.48x
Stockport 8 7.17x
Horninglow 7 44.81x
Kirk Langley 7 305.68x
Liverpool 7 0.99x
Mobberley 7 141.41x
Over 7 31.76x
Walthamstow 7 10.03x
West Derby 7 2.05x
Wheelock 7 262.17x
Altrincham 6 15.84x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 2.36x
Bollington In 6 31.09x
Bosley 6 444.44x
Bradford 6 2.55x
Brighton 6 1.80x
Camberwell 6 0.96x
Chorley In Macclesfield 6 90.77x
Darlington 6 5.32x
Derby All Sts 6 46.73x
Haydock 6 29.88x
Ilam 6 857.14x
Litchurch 6 9.69x
Manchester 6 1.14x
Offcote Underwood 6 375.00x
Roath 6 7.72x
Alberbury Criggion 5 925.93x
Bromley London 5 2.31x
Buckfastleigh 5 52.97x
Checkley 5 58.07x
Chippenham 5 27.44x
Derby St Alkmund 5 10.85x
Eastwood 5 10.67x
Harbledown 5 206.61x
Kings Norton 5 4.35x
Lowestoft 5 8.85x
Lymm 5 31.73x
Over Alderley 5 370.37x
Preston 5 1.60x
Preston Quarter 5 21.10x
Stafford St Mary 5 10.65x
Wallasey 5 67.75x
Willaston In Nantwich 5 74.74x
Derby St Peter 4 8.17x
Rugby 4 11.94x
Whitechapel London 4 4.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Elizabeth 47
Sarah 42
Eliza 23
Ellen 20
Emma 20
Annie 18
Alice 12
Ann 12
Fanny 12
Hannah 12
Harriet 11
Jane 11
Martha 11
Margaret 10
Emily 8
Harriett 8
Lydia 8
Anne 7
Lucy 7
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Rachel 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Maud 4
Eleanor 3
Elizh. 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Gertrude 3
Helen 3
Laura 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Ella 2
Frances 2
Marian 2
May 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 63
William 54
Thomas 33
James 30
George 29
Charles 22
Joseph 22
Frederick 15
Richard 12
Henry 11
Samuel 11
Alfred 10
Edward 8
Harry 8
Edwin 7
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Matthew 6
Wm. 5
David 4
Ernest 4
Fredk. 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Peter 3
Bertram 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Marcellus 2
Mathew 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Alan 1
Allen 1
Barnabas 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Eli 1
Elisha 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Hervey 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Lowndes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lowndes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,011 people were recorded with the Lowndes surname. That placed it at #3,874 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lowndes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,690 in 2016. That gives Lowndes a modern rank of #3,701.

What does the Lowndes surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Lowndes map show?

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