NameCensus.

UK surname

Mowl

An occupational surname referring to someone who tended cattle or worked with mules.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Mowl surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kentford, London parishes and Exning. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Shepway and Forest Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mowl is 149 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1911

149 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2006

Key insights

  • Mowl had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 149 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mowl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mowl surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mowl 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Mowls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kentford, London parishes, Exning and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Shepway and Forest Heath. 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 Kentford Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Exning Cambridgeshire
5 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 002 Ashford
2 Shepway 003 Shepway
3 Forest Heath 006 Forest Heath
4 Ashford 014 Ashford
5 Forest Heath 008 Forest Heath

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mowl

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mowl

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mowl is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mowl is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mowl falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mowl

The surname MOWL is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mughel," meaning "a heap" or "a small hill." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a hill or a mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MOWL can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Mouhel." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the name MOWL appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, which mentions a William Mowel. This suggests that the name had already spread across different regions of England by that time.

The MOWL surname is also closely associated with the village of Mowlish in Dorset, which was formerly known as "Mowel" or "Mouel." This place name likely influenced the surname's development and may have been the origin for some families bearing the name.

One notable figure in history with the surname MOWL was Thomas Mowl (1535-1605), an English churchman who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes from 1601 until his death.

Another prominent individual was Benedict Mowl (1619-1708), a Benedictine monk and writer who was born in Somerset, England. He is known for his works on religious subjects and his contributions to the English Benedictine community.

In the 18th century, Richard Mowl (1723-1803) was a respected English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including the Guildhall in Bath.

Moving into the 19th century, John Mowl (1819-1892) was a British politician and barrister who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Southampton.

Towards the end of the Victorian era, Edward Mowl (1867-1941) was a notable English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club between 1888 and 1901.

While the MOWL surname may have originated from a descriptive term related to geography, it has since become a distinct family name with a rich history spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from various walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mowl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mowl 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 38 Mowls recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 38 4.06x
Kent 16 5.01x
Surrey 15 3.29x
Suffolk 8 7.02x
Sussex 6 3.80x
Merionethshire 4 23.35x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.38x
Cambridgeshire 2 3.37x
Worcestershire 2 1.64x
Devon 1 0.51x
Leicestershire 1 0.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 13 Mowls recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.01x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 13 26.01x
Lambeth 10 12.25x
Saltwood 9 4090.91x
Exning 8 1379.31x
Mile End Old Town 8 54.13x
Hackney London 6 11.43x
Worth 6 521.74x
Hythe St Leonard 5 442.48x
Bromley London 4 19.42x
Dolgelley 4 314.96x
Mansfield 3 68.65x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 15.92x
St George In East 3 47.10x
Bromsgrove 2 48.54x
Kensington London 2 3.84x
Battersea 1 2.90x
Beckenham 1 23.92x
Camberwell 1 1.67x
Cheriton 1 76.92x
Coveney 1 625.00x
Islington London 1 1.10x
Loughborough 1 21.23x
Newmarket All Sts 1 227.27x
St George Bloomsbury 1 18.62x
Stoke Damerel 1 7.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 9
William 6
James 5
John 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Clara 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
J. 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Mowl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mowl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Mowl surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mowl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Mowl a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Mowl surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who tended cattle or worked with mules.

What does the Mowl map show?

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