NameCensus.

UK surname

Sowray

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Sowray surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockton-on-the-Forest and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Ryedale and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sowray is 122 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.7%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2010

122 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sowray had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sowray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sowray surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sowray 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 108 #22,828
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Sowrays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockton-on-the-Forest, Halifax, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Ryedale and Leeds. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockton-on-the-Forest Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 005 Harrogate
2 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
3 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
4 Harrogate 006 Harrogate
5 Leeds 050 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sowray

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sowray

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Sowray is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sowray 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

Sowray falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Sowray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sowray 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 90 Sowrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.13x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 90 9.13x
Derbyshire 3 1.93x
Surrey 3 0.62x
Gloucestershire 2 1.03x
Hampshire 1 0.49x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Merionethshire 1 5.49x
Middlesex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ripley in Yorkshire leads with 11 Sowrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ripley 11 10000.00x
Stockton On Forest 10 6666.67x
Hunslet 8 52.05x
Scarborough 8 89.29x
Stillington 7 3500.00x
Upper Dunsforth W 6 15000.00x
York Holy Trinity 6 705.88x
Shipley 5 97.66x
Leeds 4 7.19x
Skircoat 4 102.83x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 14.96x
Marton Cum Moxby 3 6000.00x
Pannal 3 315.79x
Wandsworth 3 31.32x
York St Lawrence 3 291.26x
Angram 2 10000.00x
Ilkeston 2 45.77x
Lassington 2 1428.57x
Tholthorpe 2 2857.14x
York St Martin Mklgt W 2 909.09x
Acomb 1 192.31x
Belper 1 33.11x
Chelsea London 1 3.34x
Earswick 1 2000.00x
Llanycil 1 102.04x
Shipton In Great 1 666.67x
Skelmersdale 1 50.76x
Whippingham 1 64.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 9
George 7
William 7
Robert 3
David 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
James 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Francais 1
Hammond 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Peter 1
Plowman 1
Prince 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sowray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sowray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Sowray surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sowray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Sowray a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Sowray map show?

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