NameCensus.

UK surname

Ower

An old English surname referring to a riverbank dweller.

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Ower surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coupar Angus and Meigle, Barnet and Westend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ower is 263 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.7%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

1891

263 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ower had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 263 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Ower surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ower surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ower 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 125 #14,700
1861 historical 235 #10,427
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 263 #12,261
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 64 #26,435
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

Back to top

Where Owers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow, West Derby and St. Martins. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coupar Angus and Meigle, Barnet, Westend, Ibrox and Wokingham. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 St. Martins Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
2 Barnet 028 Barnet
3 Westend Dundee City
4 Ibrox Glasgow City
5 Wokingham 009 Wokingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ower

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ower

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Ower surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Ower 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ower 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

Ower 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

Ower falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ower

The surname OWER is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "owere," meaning "river bank" or "shore." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a river bank or shore.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname OWER can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. The name is closely linked to the place names of these areas, such as Owersby in Lincolnshire and Ower in Hampshire.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Ora" and "Oura," which may have been the precursors to the modern surname OWER.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname OWER was John Ower, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another notable figure was Richard Ower, a merchant from London, who was recorded in the city's records in 1485.

During the 16th century, the surname OWER began to appear more frequently in historical records. Thomas Ower, born in 1542 in Lincolnshire, was a prominent clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. His son, Michael Ower (1572-1648), followed in his footsteps and became a respected minister in Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the OWER surname gained further recognition with the birth of John Ower (1616-1668), a renowned English engraver and print publisher from London. His intricate engravings and collaborations with renowned artists of the time, such as Wenceslaus Hollar, earned him a lasting reputation in the art world.

Another notable figure was William Ower (1680-1745), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Hampshire. He is remembered for his philanthropic efforts, including the founding of the Ower Charity School in the village of Ower.

Throughout the centuries, the OWER surname has been associated with various professions and notable individuals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried the name. While the origins of the surname can be traced back to the Old English language and topographic references, it has become a part of the rich tapestry of English surname history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ower families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ower 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. Angus leads with 28 Owers recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.82x.

County Total Index
Angus 28 34.82x
Perthshire 24 61.60x
Middlesex 10 1.15x
Surrey 9 2.13x
Lanarkshire 8 2.85x
Glamorgan 2 1.32x
Inverness-shire 2 7.72x
Cornwall 1 1.02x
Derbyshire 1 0.74x
Devon 1 0.55x
Essex 1 0.58x
Midlothian 1 0.86x
Yorkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 18 Owers recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.96x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 18 59.96x
Kinnoull 18 1764.71x
Liff Benvie 9 73.71x
Glasgow 8 16.05x
Croydon 7 29.81x
Mile End Old Town 4 29.20x
Bromley London 3 15.71x
St Martins 3 1363.64x
Cargill 2 487.80x
Harrow On The Hill 2 115.61x
Inverness 2 30.67x
Lambeth 2 2.64x
Aberdare 1 9.64x
Camborne 1 24.69x
Dunblane 1 107.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.14x
Edmonton 1 14.31x
Eyam 1 263.16x
Great Totham 1 454.55x
Monifieth 1 35.21x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 7.18x
Sheffield 1 3.65x
Ystradyfodwg 1 7.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Rose 2
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Isabella 1
Lavinia 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Frederick 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Annerley 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ower households.

FAQ

Ower surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ower surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Ower surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ower surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Ower a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Ower surname mean?

An old English surname referring to a riverbank dweller.

What does the Ower map show?

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