NameCensus.

UK surname

Showler

English surname transferred from northern England meaning "a person employed to scare birds away from crops".

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Showler surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Central Bedfordshire and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Showler is 226 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.9%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1999

226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Showler had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Showler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Showler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Showler 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 119 #15,247
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 220 #14,245
1911 historical 203 #14,831
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 226 #16,884
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 219 #17,126
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 211 #17,997
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 218 #18,441
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Showlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Whitworth and Woburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Central Bedfordshire, Doncaster and Shepway. 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 Erith Kent
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme Lincolnshire
4 Whitworth Durham
5 Woburn Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 019 County Durham
2 Central Bedfordshire 023 Central Bedfordshire
3 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
4 Doncaster 034 Doncaster
5 Shepway 006 Shepway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Showler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Showler

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Showler is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Showler is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Showler falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Showler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Showler

The surname Showler is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the county of Yorkshire, particularly in the areas around Leeds and Bradford. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "sceawlere," which referred to a performer or showman.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Showler can be found in the parish records of St. Peter's Church in Leeds, where a certain John Showler was baptized in 1587. Records also show that a family by the name of Showler resided in the village of Calverley, near Leeds, in the early 17th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Showler surname appeared in various historical documents and records across Yorkshire. In 1642, a William Showler was listed as a landowner in the village of Adwalton, near Bradford. Additionally, a Richard Showler was mentioned in the court rolls of Wakefield in 1678.

While the Showler name does not appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that the surname has its roots in the Old English word "sceawlere," which was in use during the Anglo-Saxon period. This connection suggests that the name may have been present in England much earlier than the documented records.

One notable figure with the surname Showler was John Showler (1758-1835), a prominent wool merchant and industrialist in Leeds. He played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the city during the Industrial Revolution. Another individual of note was Samuel Showler (1817-1888), a Methodist minister and author who published several religious works.

Other individuals with the Showler surname include:

1. Thomas Showler (1779-1856), a Yorkshire-born farmer who later emigrated to Canada. 2. James Showler (1818-1892), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire. 3. William Showler (1856-1935), a British engineer and inventor who held several patents for textile machinery. 4. Edith Showler (1875-1960), a British actress and stage performer who appeared in various theatrical productions in London. 5. George Showler (1890-1967), a professional cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

While the Showler surname may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, with its origins dating back to the 16th century or possibly even earlier.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Showler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Showler 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 40 Showlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.41x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 40 33.41x
Lincolnshire 37 11.69x
Yorkshire 20 1.02x
Lancashire 17 0.72x
Kent 16 2.37x
Bedfordshire 14 13.65x
Middlesex 13 0.66x
Oxfordshire 12 9.81x
Northamptonshire 8 4.30x
Surrey 7 0.73x
Suffolk 6 2.49x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.87x
Staffordshire 3 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.54x
Norfolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Underwood in Buckinghamshire leads with 18 Showlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.

Place Total Index
Weston Underwood 18 7500.00x
Erith 12 180.18x
Woburn 11 1235.96x
Wainfleet All Sts 10 1086.96x
Cleethorpes 9 483.87x
Launton 9 2250.00x
Castleton 8 34.09x
Bradwell 7 414.20x
Kettering 7 92.96x
Brotton 6 234.38x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 172.41x
North Forty Foot Bank 6 4615.38x
Stone 6 645.16x
Sudbury St Gregory 6 310.88x
Tonge 6 121.70x
Doncaster 5 34.87x
Hogsthorpe 5 1020.41x
Hornsey 5 19.97x
Nottingham St Mary 5 7.24x
Spilsby 5 495.05x
Oving 4 1538.46x
Aylesbury 3 56.60x
Bentley Cum Arksey 3 294.12x
Bicester Market End 3 133.33x
Butterworth 3 52.45x
Lambeth 3 1.74x
Potsgrove 3 2142.86x
Walsall Foreign 3 8.69x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.33x
Clapham 2 8.08x
Hackney London 2 1.80x
Islington London 2 1.04x
Lewisham 2 5.55x
Margate St John Baptist 2 16.17x
Tottenham 2 6.34x
Boston 1 10.41x
Buckingham 1 41.15x
Camberwell 1 0.79x
Clifton 1 5.09x
Everdon 1 263.16x
Great Catworth 1 243.90x
Kempstone 1 3333.33x
Louth 1 13.77x
Seaton Carew 1 84.75x
Stony Stratford East 1 204.08x
Tarporley 1 108.70x
Wandsworth 1 5.25x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Showler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Showler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Showler surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Showler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Showler a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Showler surname mean?

English surname transferred from northern England meaning "a person employed to scare birds away from crops".

What does the Showler map show?

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