UK surname
A variant of the surname Owen, from the Welsh personal name Owein.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Ownes surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, St Pancras and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ownes is 135 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.8%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
135 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ownes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ownes surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, St Pancras, Toxteth Park, Llanfechell and Penderyn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruabon | Denbighshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Llanfechell | Anglesey |
| 5 | Penderyn | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ownes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ownes, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ownes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ownes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ownes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ownes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ownes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ownes originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. One of the earliest known spellings of the name was "Owennis," derived from the Old English personal name "Owane." This name itself stems from the Old Welsh name "Owain," meaning "well-born" or "noble."
In the 11th century, the Ownes surname was found primarily in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name were descendants of Welsh settlers who migrated to these areas following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several entries that may reference individuals with the Ownes surname or its variants. One such entry mentions a landowner named "Ouuen" in the county of Somerset.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ownes surname dates back to 1273, when a Thomas Owenes was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. Another early record from 1379 mentions a John Owenes residing in Yorkshire.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ownes surname. One such person was Sir John Ownes (1560-1619), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament who served as High Sheriff of Merionethshire in 1597. Another prominent figure was William Ownes (1675-1745), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales.
In the 16th century, the Ownes surname was also associated with several place names in England. For example, the village of Ownes in Staffordshire and the hamlet of Ownes Ash in Worcestershire were both named after families with this surname who lived in those areas.
Other notable individuals with the Ownes surname include:
1. Robert Ownes (1565-1633), an English scholar and translator who served as the Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge.
2. Edward Ownes (1770-1849), a Welsh businessman and politician who represented the Pembrokeshire constituency in the House of Commons.
3. Harriet Ownes (1820-1892), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad.
4. Thomas Ownes (1842-1912), a Welsh-born industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Ownes Coal Company in Pennsylvania.
5. Eliza Ownes (1868-1940), a British novelist and playwright known for her works exploring social issues and the lives of working-class women.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ownes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 5 Ownes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 5 | 9.47x |
| Durham | 5 | 6.63x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 7.95x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 9.16x |
| Dunbartonshire | 2 | 29.37x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 2.44x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.79x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 2.34x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 5 Ownes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 135.50x |
| Longbenton | 3 | 187.50x |
| Trimdon | 3 | 1111.11x |
| Barony | 2 | 9.64x |
| Bonhill | 2 | 183.49x |
| Flimby | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 2 | 22.03x |
| Willesden | 2 | 83.68x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 22.42x |
| Burtonwood | 1 | 909.09x |
| Heworth | 1 | 67.11x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 476.19x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 27.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ownes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ownes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Ownes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Chief Petty Officer R N | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Pit Labourer | 1 |
| Retired Waiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Ownes surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Ownes a modern rank of #38,264.
A variant of the surname Owen, from the Welsh personal name Owein.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ownes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.