NameCensus.

UK surname

Mower

An occupational surname referring to one who mows grass or hay, or a maker of scythes.

In the 1881 census there were 718 people recorded with the Mower surname, ranking it #5,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,019, ranked #5,722, down from #5,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Huntingfield, London parishes and Hammersmith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, St. Helens and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mower is 1,063 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

718

Ranked #5,071

Modern count

1,019

2016, ranked #5,722

Peak year

1999

1,063 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mower had 718 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,019 in 2016, ranked #5,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 953 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mower surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mower surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mower 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 509 #4,914
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 718 #5,071
1891 historical 739 #5,385
1901 historical 860 #5,316
1911 historical 953 #4,729
1997 modern 1,036 #5,332
1998 modern 1,062 #5,400
1999 modern 1,063 #5,424
2000 modern 1,033 #5,534
2001 modern 1,024 #5,480
2002 modern 1,057 #5,443
2003 modern 1,021 #5,507
2004 modern 1,006 #5,569
2005 modern 972 #5,661
2006 modern 964 #5,722
2007 modern 974 #5,727
2008 modern 999 #5,657
2009 modern 1,028 #5,638
2010 modern 1,054 #5,634
2011 modern 1,024 #5,711
2012 modern 985 #5,816
2013 modern 1,035 #5,679
2014 modern 1,048 #5,638
2015 modern 1,038 #5,632
2016 modern 1,019 #5,722

Geography

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Where Mowers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Huntingfield, London parishes, Hammersmith and Hintlesham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, St. Helens, Suffolk Coastal and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Huntingfield Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hammersmith London (West Districts)
5 Hintlesham Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 010 Babergh
2 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
3 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
4 Babergh 011 Babergh
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mower

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mower

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mower is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mower 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

Mower falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mower

The surname Mower has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'mawere', which referred to someone who mowed or cut grass, hay, or other crops. As an occupational surname, it was initially given to individuals whose primary occupation was mowing or harvesting.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landholders in England, there are several entries that may have been early forms or variations of the surname Mower. These include 'le Mawere' and 'le Mauer', indicating the presence of the name in various regions of the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mower can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, where a person named Richard le Mawere is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname appeared in various spellings such as 'le Mower', 'le Mowere', and 'le Mauere' in various county records and rolls. These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and across different regions.

One notable individual bearing the surname Mower was John Mower, a member of the Parliament of England who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in 1401. Another prominent figure was Sir Christopher Mower, a courtier and diplomat who lived during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the surname Mower can be found in the parish records of several counties, including Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Warwickshire. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Thomas Mower, a Puritan minister and writer who lived from 1612 to 1670.

During the 18th century, the Mower surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of England. One notable individual was Michael Mower, a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker who lived from 1743 to 1806 in London.

Throughout history, the surname Mower has also been associated with various place names and locations, such as Mower's Green in Hertfordshire and Mower's Meadow in Wiltshire, which may have derived their names from individuals bearing the surname or from the occupation itself.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mower families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mower 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. Suffolk leads with 215 Mowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.27x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 215 25.27x
Middlesex 102 1.46x
Norfolk 88 8.19x
Yorkshire 66 0.95x
Gloucestershire 38 2.77x
Surrey 33 0.97x
Lincolnshire 31 2.78x
Kent 20 0.84x
Derbyshire 18 1.65x
Hampshire 17 1.19x
Wiltshire 17 2.75x
Durham 15 0.72x
Lancashire 11 0.13x
Essex 9 0.65x
Glamorgan 9 0.74x
Somerset 6 0.53x
Sussex 6 0.51x
Berkshire 5 0.95x
Northamptonshire 4 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.45x
Bedfordshire 1 0.28x
Devon 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Leicestershire 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. Elmsett in Suffolk leads with 45 Mowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4368.93x.

Place Total Index
Elmsett 45 4368.93x
Hammersmith London 27 15.69x
Heveningham 26 3421.05x
Ecclesall Bierlow 23 16.34x
Hintlesham 22 1617.65x
Heigham 21 36.43x
Aldham 19 3333.33x
St George Hanover 16 17.55x
Norwich St Peter 15 212.77x
Islington London 13 1.92x
Huntingfield 12 1411.76x
South Cove 12 3157.89x
Wandsworth 12 17.85x
Westoe 11 9.34x
Fulham London 10 9.87x
Hitcham 10 467.29x
Hunslet 10 9.27x
Bristol St Augustine 9 40.71x
Hayfield 9 134.13x
Newington 9 3.49x
Norwich St Stephen 9 91.28x
St Faith Winchester 9 134.93x
Ashby Cum Fenby 8 1269.84x
Eglwysilan 8 37.91x
Kensington London 8 2.06x
Little Bealings 8 1428.57x
Shipdham 8 219.18x
Devizes St James 7 85.26x
Hackney London 7 1.79x
Holy Trinity St Mary 7 66.41x
Horncastle 7 60.71x
Lewisham 7 5.51x
Longhope 7 300.43x
Yoxford 7 275.59x
Berkeley Alkington 6 576.92x
Hingham 6 161.29x
Lee 6 17.34x
North Walsham 6 77.52x
Somersham 6 612.24x
Weston Super Mare 6 21.13x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 8.01x
Benacre 5 1020.41x
Blofield 5 183.15x
Bow London 5 5.62x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 10.95x
Framsden 5 264.55x
Gravesend 5 24.78x
Great Bolton 5 4.55x
Hawstead 5 609.76x
Morton In Bourn 5 220.26x
Nether Hallam 5 5.34x
Peasenhall 5 241.55x
Wokingham 5 41.77x
Blackwell 4 74.49x
Brigsley 4 1212.12x
Darlington 4 4.99x
Kings Worthy 4 377.36x
Little Cornard 4 434.78x
Normanby In 4 21.62x
Norwich St John Timberhill 4 138.41x
Richmond 4 8.39x
Sheffield 4 1.82x
Southcoates 4 10.41x
St Pancras London 4 0.71x
Uckfield 4 77.97x
Bermondsey 3 1.44x
Bradfield 3 153.06x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 13.20x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 3 18.79x
Hadleigh 3 36.36x
Heeley 3 14.27x
Longham 3 389.61x
Norwich St Benedict 3 62.63x
Peterborough 3 6.31x
Rougham 3 153.85x
Thornbury 3 32.05x
Urchfont 3 118.58x
West Ham 3 0.99x
Almondsbury 2 38.24x
Besthorpe 2 170.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
George 38
John 28
James 22
Robert 22
Henry 18
Charles 15
Thomas 15
Arthur 12
Walter 12
Frank 9
Frederick 9
Isaac 9
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Joseph 6
Harry 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Amos 3
Christopher 3
Wm. 3
Edwin 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Arthyr 1
Benjaman 1
Bertram 1
Carles 1
Collingwood 1
David 1
Donald 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Hezekiah 1
Joah 1
Joe 1
Larzarus 1
Marston 1
Matthew 1
Newburn 1
Oscar 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Mower surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mower surname in 1881?

In 1881, 718 people were recorded with the Mower surname. That placed it at #5,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mower surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,019 in 2016. That gives Mower a modern rank of #5,722.

What does the Mower surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who mows grass or hay, or a maker of scythes.

What does the Mower map show?

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