NameCensus.

UK surname

Plows

A surname derived from the occupation of a ploughman or farmer.

In the 1881 census there were 325 people recorded with the Plows surname, ranking it #9,194 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 461, ranked #10,625, down from #9,194 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell), London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, County Durham and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plows is 501 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.8%.

1881 census count

325

Ranked #9,194

Modern count

461

2016, ranked #10,625

Peak year

1998

501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plows had 325 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,194 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016, ranked #10,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 437 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Plows surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plows surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plows 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 325 #9,194
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 371 #9,997
1911 historical 437 #8,698
1997 modern 468 #9,769
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 487 #9,866
2000 modern 484 #9,873
2001 modern 471 #9,895
2002 modern 471 #10,076
2003 modern 442 #10,434
2004 modern 446 #10,391
2005 modern 425 #10,667
2006 modern 436 #10,506
2007 modern 438 #10,568
2008 modern 447 #10,481
2009 modern 476 #10,227
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 488 #10,135
2012 modern 469 #10,348
2013 modern 463 #10,602
2014 modern 467 #10,596
2015 modern 458 #10,678
2016 modern 461 #10,625

Geography

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Where Plows' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell), London parishes, Lambeth, Stranton and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, County Durham, Leeds and Sunderland. 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 Whitkirk (Seacroft), Thorner (Shadwell) Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Stranton Durham
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 006 Torridge
2 County Durham 016 County Durham
3 Torridge 009 Torridge
4 Leeds 089 Leeds
5 Sunderland 033 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plows

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plows

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Plows surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Plows household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Plows is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Plows 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

Plows falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Plows

The surname PLOWS is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "plou" meaning "plow" or "ploughshare." It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who was a plowman or worked with plows in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname PLOWS date back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing this name in various parts of England. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a William le Plowere.

During the Middle Ages, the PLOWS surname was often spelled in various ways, such as Plouman, Ploghman, and Ploughman, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions of the time. Some of these alternate spellings may have derived from place names or locations associated with the occupation of plowing.

In the 14th century, the PLOWS surname appeared in the famous Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This record provides evidence of the surname's early existence and its connection to the agricultural profession.

One of the earliest known individuals with the PLOWS surname was John Ploghman, who was born around 1320 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to carry the PLOWS name in the region for generations.

Another notable bearer of the PLOWS surname was William Plowes, a prominent English printer and bookseller who lived from 1550 to 1615. He was known for publishing works by notable authors of his time, including Thomas Dekker and John Marston.

In the 17th century, the PLOWS surname was carried by Richard Plowes, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He was born in 1625 and played an influential role in the city's trade and governance during his lifetime.

During the 18th century, the PLOWS name was associated with John Plows, a renowned artist and engraver who was born in London in 1742. His intricate engravings and illustrations adorned numerous publications and works of art during his career.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the PLOWS surname was Samuel Plows, a pioneering industrialist and engineer who was born in 1818 in Staffordshire, England. He made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and industrial machinery, and his innovations helped drive the Industrial Revolution forward.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plows families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plows 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. Yorkshire leads with 209 Plows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 209 6.63x
Surrey 46 2.97x
Middlesex 17 0.53x
Lancashire 16 0.42x
Kent 10 0.92x
Staffordshire 10 0.93x
Suffolk 6 1.55x
Durham 4 0.42x
Northamptonshire 2 0.67x
Warwickshire 2 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.50x
Gloucestershire 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kippax in Yorkshire leads with 47 Plows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1696.75x.

Place Total Index
Kippax 47 1696.75x
Lambeth 28 10.10x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 24 625.00x
Seacroft 12 805.37x
Carnforth 10 483.09x
Ilkley 10 194.17x
Leeds 10 5.62x
Wakefield 10 41.34x
Chapel Allerton 9 190.68x
Handsworth 9 34.01x
Rotherhithe 9 22.91x
York St Giles In 9 303.03x
Hartoft 8 5000.00x
York St Lawrence 7 212.77x
Boldron 6 3529.41x
Camberwell 6 2.95x
York St Saviour 6 199.34x
Clerkenwell London 5 6.66x
Holbeck 5 23.95x
Hunslet 5 10.18x
Pontefract 5 73.64x
Salford 5 4.51x
Woolwich 5 12.48x
Barnham 4 800.00x
Cropton 4 1052.63x
Guisbrough 4 58.06x
Clifton In York 3 45.52x
Greenwich 3 5.93x
Newington 3 2.55x
St George Bloomsbury 3 16.45x
St George Hanover 3 7.23x
Thornaby 3 25.49x
York St George 3 120.97x
York St Mary 3 22.99x
York St Nicholas In 3 169.49x
Aston 2 0.91x
Batley 2 6.68x
Copdock 2 571.43x
Hampstead London 2 4.04x
St Giles In Fields 2 18.23x
Stranton 2 6.28x
Welford 2 198.02x
Barwick In Elmet 1 41.49x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.23x
Bowood 1 1000.00x
Bradford 1 1.31x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.81x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.20x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 11.39x
Flaxton 1 250.00x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 4.93x
Holdenhurst 1 5.85x
Houghton Le Spring 1 15.29x
Islington London 1 0.32x
Knapton 1 263.16x
Lichfield St Mary 1 32.26x
Manchester 1 0.59x
Mirfield 1 5.78x
Potter Newton 1 17.99x
Sandal Magna 1 21.46x
South Kirkby 1 144.93x
St Andrew Holborn 1 9.28x
St Mary Cray 1 48.31x
Swillington 1 111.11x
Whitwood 1 22.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 12
Hannah 8
Ann 6
Annie 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Charlotte 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Naomi 3
Phoebe 3
Ruth 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
F.Maude 1
Faith 1
Gertrude 1
Harreat 1
Harriet 1
Heneretia 1
Isabella 1
Joyce 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Maude 1
Octavia 1
Patience 1
Phoeby 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 19
Thomas 9
James 8
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Arthur 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Tom 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Levi 2
Moses 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Caleb 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Emily 1
Ernest 1
Featherstone 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Hunter 1
Jarvis 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Jim 1
Joe 1
Jos. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Porrit 1
Richd.Harry 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Plows surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plows surname in 1881?

In 1881, 325 people were recorded with the Plows surname. That placed it at #9,194 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plows surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016. That gives Plows a modern rank of #10,625.

What does the Plows surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of a ploughman or farmer.

What does the Plows map show?

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