NameCensus.

UK surname

Owczarek

A Polish surname meaning "shepherd" or "one who tends sheep".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Tameside and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Owczarek is 261 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

2016

261 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Owczarek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Owczarek surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Owczarek 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
1997 modern 28 #34,904
1998 modern 36 #34,246
1999 modern 34 #34,528
2000 modern 35 #34,420
2001 modern 39 #33,923
2002 modern 39 #34,219
2003 modern 42 #34,040
2004 modern 51 #33,478
2005 modern 63 #32,602
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 232 #17,761
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Owczareks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Tameside, Kirklees, Peterhead Harbour and Lincoln. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 025 Brent
2 Tameside 024 Tameside
3 Kirklees 047 Kirklees
4 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
5 Lincoln 010 Lincoln

Forenames

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First names often paired with Owczarek

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Owczarek

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Owczarek surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Owczarek household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Owczarek is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Owczarek 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

Owczarek falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Owczarek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Owczarek, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Owczarek

The surname OWCZAREK has its origins in Poland, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Polish word "owczarz," which means "shepherd" or "one who tends to sheep." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were involved in pastoral occupations, likely tending flocks of sheep in rural areas of the country.

OWCZAREK is a variation of the more common Polish surname OWCZARCZYK, which shares the same root. Both names are derived from the occupational term "owczarz," indicating a strong connection to the shepherding profession in their early history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OWCZAREK surname can be found in the records of the Polish city of Krakow, where a certain Jan Owczarek was mentioned in a document dated 1387. This provides evidence of the name's existence in the late Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the OWCZAREK surname appears in the records of the town of Biecz, located in southern Poland. A man named Stanisław Owczarek was documented as residing in the town in 1529, further solidifying the name's presence in various regions of the country.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the OWCZAREK surname. Among them is Józef Owczarek (1850-1919), a Polish painter renowned for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life. Another prominent figure was Franciszek Owczarek (1888-1940), a Polish military officer who served in World War I and later became a victim of the Katyn massacre during World War II.

Other noteworthy individuals with the OWCZAREK surname include Stanisław Owczarek (1888-1968), a Polish writer and journalist known for his contributions to the literary magazine "Wiadomości Literackie"; Jan Owczarek (1923-2005), a Polish actor and theater director; and Zygmunt Owczarek (1917-1988), a Polish footballer who played for several clubs in the interwar period.

While the OWCZAREK surname has its roots in the pastoral traditions of Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in the historical occupations and cultural heritage of the Polish people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Owczarek surname: questions and answers

How common is the Owczarek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Owczarek a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Owczarek surname mean?

A Polish surname meaning "shepherd" or "one who tends sheep".

What does the Owczarek map show?

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