UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a location name such as Scone in Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Scown surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stratton, St Stephen by Launceston and Teignmouth, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scown is 118 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.1%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1851
118 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Scown surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Scown surname density by area, 1911 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 | 118 | #15,362 |
| 1861 | historical | 56 | #26,864 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 97 | #24,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 67 | #31,297 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 55 | #34,649 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stratton, St Stephen by Launceston, Teignmouth, East, St Thomas the Apostle and Petherwin, South. 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 | Stratton | Cornwall |
| 2 | St Stephen by Launceston | Cornwall |
| 3 | Teignmouth, East | Devon |
| 4 | St Thomas the Apostle | Cornwall |
| 5 | Petherwin, South | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Scown 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 Scown, 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 Scown surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Scown 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, Scown 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 Scown is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Scown, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SCOWN has its origins in England, with early records indicating its presence in the county of Cornwall as far back as the 13th century. This name is believed to have derived from the Cornish word "scon," meaning a rocky hill or tor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SCOWN surname appears in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall in 1284, where a "William Scone" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was likely established in the region by this time.
During the medieval period, many individuals were identified by their place of residence or a distinguishing geographical feature near their dwelling. The SCOWN name may have originated from a family that lived near a prominent rocky outcrop or tor, leading to their association with the Cornish word "scon."
In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, a "John de Scone" is listed among the taxpayers of Cornwall, further reinforcing the presence of the surname in the region. The use of the prefix "de" in this instance indicates the family's connection to a specific location.
As time progressed, various spellings of the name emerged, including Scone, Scoan, and Scowen, before settling into the modern form of SCOWN. This evolution in spelling was common during the Middle Ages when standardized spelling conventions were not yet established.
Notable individuals bearing the SCOWN surname throughout history include:
1. John Scown (b. circa 1520), a merchant and landowner in Cornwall known for his involvement in the local tin trade.
2. Richard Scown (1589-1653), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Cleer in Cornwall.
3. Elizabeth Scown (b. 1675), a prominent figure in the Cornish mining industry, known for her management of several tin and copper mines.
4. William Scown (1737-1811), a Cornish engineer and inventor credited with developing improvements to mining machinery and techniques.
5. James Scown (1818-1892), a British explorer and naturalist who documented the flora and fauna of various regions in Africa and South America.
While the SCOWN surname has remained relatively uncommon, it has persisted through the centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the rugged landscapes of Cornwall, where the name's origins can be traced to the rocky hills and tors that dot the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scown 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 41 Scowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 41 | 22.44x |
| Cornwall | 31 | 31.19x |
| Buckinghamshire | 8 | 15.07x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 9.22x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.11x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.94x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.23x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 21 Scowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.15x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth St Andrew | 21 | 149.15x |
| St Stephen | 9 | 2571.43x |
| East Teignmouth | 8 | 1066.67x |
| Great Marlow | 8 | 559.44x |
| West Teignmouth | 8 | 571.43x |
| Probus | 7 | 1707.32x |
| St Thomas Apostle | 4 | 1290.32x |
| St Mary Magdalene | 3 | 410.96x |
| Wootton | 3 | 937.50x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 2 | 312.50x |
| South Petherwin | 2 | 800.00x |
| Stratton | 2 | 370.37x |
| Tormoham | 2 | 25.87x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 3.83x |
| Gloucester St John Baptist | 1 | 90.09x |
| Holton St Mary | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.18x |
| Lanteglos | 1 | 217.39x |
| Lewannick | 1 | 526.32x |
| Lezant | 1 | 454.55x |
| Lifton | 1 | 227.27x |
| Marystow | 1 | 833.33x |
| North Hill | 1 | 312.50x |
| Sharlston | 1 | 175.44x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Scown 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 Scown 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 Scown households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Scown surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Scown a modern rank of #34,727.
An English habitational surname derived from a location name such as Scone in Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Scown 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.