NameCensus.

UK surname

Sowden

An English surname derived from place names likely meaning "valley of sorrel plants."

In the 1881 census there were 1,695 people recorded with the Sowden surname, ranking it #2,539 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,981, ranked #3,248, down from #2,539 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Camborne, Bradford and Liskeard, St Cleer. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sowden is 2,101 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.

1881 census count

1,695

Ranked #2,539

Modern count

1,981

2016, ranked #3,248

Peak year

1911

2,101 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sowden had 1,695 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,539 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,981 in 2016, ranked #3,248.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,101 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sowden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sowden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sowden 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 1,312 #2,185
1861 historical 981 #2,836
1881 historical 1,695 #2,539
1891 historical 1,657 #2,704
1901 historical 1,975 #2,684
1911 historical 2,101 #2,386
1997 modern 2,044 #3,006
1998 modern 2,091 #3,048
1999 modern 2,089 #3,073
2000 modern 2,070 #3,084
2001 modern 2,025 #3,080
2002 modern 2,054 #3,109
2003 modern 1,997 #3,118
2004 modern 1,995 #3,123
2005 modern 1,945 #3,162
2006 modern 1,954 #3,158
2007 modern 1,954 #3,185
2008 modern 1,977 #3,172
2009 modern 2,020 #3,187
2010 modern 2,069 #3,184
2011 modern 2,051 #3,172
2012 modern 2,027 #3,157
2013 modern 2,026 #3,210
2014 modern 2,061 #3,183
2015 modern 2,012 #3,221
2016 modern 1,981 #3,248

Geography

Back to top

Where Sowdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Camborne, Bradford, Liskeard, St Cleer and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, East Riding of Yorkshire, Cornwall, Leeds and Mid Devon. 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 Camborne Cornwall
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 005 Selby
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
4 Leeds 039 Leeds
5 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sowden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sowden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sowden, 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 Sowden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sowden 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sowden is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sowden is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sowden falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sowden

The surname Sowden has its origins in England and is believed to have originated in the medieval period, sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the place name Sowden, a township in the parish of Halifax, West Yorkshire. The name itself is believed to be derived from the Old English words "sogh" and "denu," meaning "marshy valley."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sowden can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1297, where a person named Adam de Sowden is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Sowden appeared in various records, such as the Yorkshire Chantry Surveys of 1546, where a William Sowden was listed as a chantry priest in the parish of Almondbury. Additionally, in the Yorkshire Wills and Administrations from 1559, a John Sowden of Wakefield was mentioned.

During the 17th century, the surname Sowden continued to be found in various records across Yorkshire. For example, in the Yorkshire Musters of 1615, a John Sowden was listed as a resident of the township of Sowden in the parish of Halifax. Furthermore, in the Yorkshire Parish Registers of 1642, a marriage between Robert Sowden and Jennet Oldfield was recorded in the parish of Almondbury.

One notable person with the surname Sowden from this time period was Thomas Sowden (1628-1692), an English clergyman who served as the rector of Adstock in Buckinghamshire. He was born in Yorkshire and was known for his religious writings, including a work titled "The Unmasking of Trifling Objections against the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity" (1675).

In the 18th century, the surname Sowden continued to be prevalent in Yorkshire, with various records mentioning individuals with this name. One example is the Yorkshire Land Tax Returns of 1762, which listed a John Sowden as a landowner in the township of Sowden.

During the 19th century, the surname Sowden began to spread beyond Yorkshire, with individuals bearing this name being found in other parts of England and even in other countries. One notable person from this period was John Sowden (1836-1911), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London and Essex.

Another individual with the surname Sowden who gained prominence in the 19th century was Robert Sowden (1805-1878), an English poet and writer who published several works, including "The Triple Wreath: A Collection of Poems" (1842) and "The Wanderings of Memory: A Descriptive Poem" (1855).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sowden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sowden 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 895 Sowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 895 5.47x
Cornwall 207 11.07x
Devon 154 4.48x
Lincolnshire 122 4.62x
Lancashire 69 0.35x
Middlesex 38 0.23x
Surrey 26 0.32x
Gloucestershire 25 0.77x
Berkshire 15 1.21x
Cheshire 15 0.41x
Hampshire 15 0.44x
Leicestershire 13 0.71x
Aberdeenshire 12 0.78x
Somerset 12 0.45x
Durham 11 0.22x
Oxfordshire 10 0.98x
Isle of Man 9 2.93x
Northumberland 9 0.37x
Essex 6 0.18x
Flintshire 6 1.35x
Staffordshire 5 0.09x
Warwickshire 4 0.10x
Norfolk 3 0.12x
Cumberland 2 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 1.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 103 Sowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.00x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 103 26.00x
Farnley In Bramley 59 288.79x
Bowling 58 35.78x
Camborne 55 71.39x
Bramley In Bramley 53 84.60x
Horton In Bradford 44 17.22x
Leeds 41 4.44x
Stoke Damerel 38 15.79x
Liskeard 29 92.71x
Pudsey 28 32.01x
Dewsbury 26 15.49x
Manningham 26 12.90x
Cleckheaton 24 39.81x
Plymouth Charles The 22 14.53x
Huddersfield 21 8.81x
Wortley In Bramley 19 14.66x
Hunslet 18 7.05x
Huttoft 18 530.97x
Wadsworth 18 67.57x
East Ardsley 17 119.97x
Habergham Eaves 17 9.49x
Liversedge 17 23.34x
Witheridge 17 293.61x
Doncaster 16 13.38x
Morley 15 17.63x
Rose Ash 15 522.65x
Chapel Allerton 14 57.17x
Marr 14 1372.55x
Chadderton 13 13.57x
Gainsborough 13 20.88x
Heaton 13 73.95x
St Pancras London 13 0.98x
Washfield 13 580.36x
Batley 12 7.72x
St Cleer 12 74.03x
Tranmere 12 8.96x
Armley 11 15.24x
Holbeck 11 10.15x
Lambeth 11 0.76x
Leicester St Margaret 11 2.46x
Bodmin 10 32.33x
Callington 10 91.83x
Maker 10 57.90x
Shipley 10 11.77x
Winkfield 10 48.61x
York St Lawrence 10 58.58x
Coniston 9 1551.72x
Cowpen 9 15.91x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 2.70x
Falmouth 9 13.60x
North Thoresby 9 211.76x
St Blazey 9 54.81x
Watlington 9 86.21x
Barrow On Humber 8 52.19x
Fulham London 8 3.34x
Heptonstall 8 34.84x
Lanivet 8 137.46x
Maughold 8 33.81x
Toxteth Park 8 1.21x
Wakefield 8 6.37x
Wyke In Bradford 8 27.33x
Ardwick 7 3.96x
Bristol St James In 7 14.70x
Clifton In York 7 20.45x
Gwennap 7 19.85x
Horncastle 7 25.69x
Kimberworth 7 7.71x
Skilgate 7 564.52x
Spilsby 7 83.53x
Yarborough 7 454.55x
Ardsley 6 31.81x
Castleford 6 10.07x
Goldhanger 6 212.77x
Illogan 6 12.12x
Lechlade 6 90.23x
Madron Penzance 6 8.82x
Sutton In Marsh 6 294.12x
Swinton In Rotherham 6 13.87x
Tryddyn 6 62.24x
Wombwell 6 12.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 118
Sarah 66
Elizabeth 65
Jane 37
Ann 29
Annie 29
Eliza 28
Martha 27
Emily 22
Hannah 22
Emma 19
Ellen 18
Alice 15
Harriet 14
Susan 10
Ada 9
Charlotte 9
Clara 9
Kate 9
Louisa 9
Margaret 9
Caroline 8
Catherine 8
Amelia 7
Anne 7
Florence 7
Isabella 7
Lucy 7
Maria 7
Susannah 7
Agnes 6
Bessie 6
Rhoda 6
Ruth 6
Fanny 5
Grace 5
Matilda 5
Maud 5
Amy 4
Beatrice 4
Bertha 4
Betsy 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Laura 4
Minnie 4
Rachel 4
Rebecca 4
Miriam 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 101
William 100
James 54
Thomas 46
Joseph 43
George 42
Samuel 35
Charles 24
Albert 18
Henry 18
Richard 17
Arthur 15
Fred 15
Edward 13
Harry 11
Alfred 10
Walter 10
Matthew 9
Edwin 8
David 7
Frederick 7
Isaac 7
Robert 7
Willie 7
Tom 6
Christopher 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Jeremiah 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Sam 4
Abraham 3
Ben 3
Jonathan 3
Saml. 3
Thos. 3
Edgar 2
Ezra 2
Harold 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Joe 2
Mathew 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2

FAQ

Sowden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sowden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,695 people were recorded with the Sowden surname. That placed it at #2,539 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sowden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,981 in 2016. That gives Sowden a modern rank of #3,248.

What does the Sowden surname mean?

An English surname derived from place names likely meaning "valley of sorrel plants."

What does the Sowden map show?

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