NameCensus.

UK surname

Stow

A place of storage or shelter, often referring to someone who lived by a granary or barn.

In the 1881 census there were 1,323 people recorded with the Stow surname, ranking it #3,101 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,379, ranked #4,378, down from #3,101 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Brington, Althorpe and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Dover and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stow is 1,737 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

1,323

Ranked #3,101

Modern count

1,379

2016, ranked #4,378

Peak year

1911

1,737 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stow had 1,323 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,101 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016, ranked #4,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,737 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stow 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 1,118 #2,523
1861 historical 1,093 #2,572
1881 historical 1,323 #3,101
1891 historical 1,437 #3,046
1901 historical 1,564 #3,296
1911 historical 1,737 #2,826
1997 modern 1,475 #3,970
1998 modern 1,498 #4,053
1999 modern 1,506 #4,067
2000 modern 1,475 #4,121
2001 modern 1,437 #4,124
2002 modern 1,430 #4,219
2003 modern 1,402 #4,227
2004 modern 1,395 #4,236
2005 modern 1,403 #4,180
2006 modern 1,399 #4,193
2007 modern 1,381 #4,272
2008 modern 1,360 #4,348
2009 modern 1,407 #4,318
2010 modern 1,421 #4,356
2011 modern 1,421 #4,320
2012 modern 1,398 #4,312
2013 modern 1,426 #4,309
2014 modern 1,421 #4,342
2015 modern 1,387 #4,381
2016 modern 1,379 #4,378

Geography

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Where Stows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Brington, Althorpe, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Polstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Dover, North Lincolnshire and Northumberland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Brington, Althorpe Northamptonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Polstead Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Dover 006 Dover
3 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
4 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
5 Northumberland 007 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stow

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Stow is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stow is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stow falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stow

The surname Stow has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "stow," which means "place" or "holy place." This word was often used to describe a monastic settlement or a church town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stow can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties in England and Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, there are references to individuals and places with the name Stow or variations of it, such as Stoue and Stowe.

The name Stow is also associated with various place names in England, including Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, Stow Maries in Essex, and Stow Bardolph in Norfolk. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "stow" and were later adopted as surnames by families living in or associated with those areas.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname Stow was John Stow (c. 1525-1605), an English historian and antiquarian. He is best known for his "Survey of London," a comprehensive account of the history and topography of the city. Another prominent individual with this surname was Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), an American abolitionist and author, most famous for her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Other notable individuals with the surname Stow include:

1. Randolph Stow (1935-2010), an Australian novelist and poet. 2. David Stow (1793-1864), an English engraver and writer. 3. John Stow (1525-1605), an English historian and antiquarian. 4. Nathaniel Stow (1624-1705), an English Puritan minister and author. 5. William Stow (1804-1864), an English engraver and illustrator.

The surname Stow has endured through various spellings and iterations over the centuries, reflecting its deep roots in English history and its association with significant individuals and places.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stow 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. Middlesex leads with 201 Stows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 201 1.56x
Lincolnshire 187 9.07x
Yorkshire 170 1.33x
Essex 128 5.03x
Suffolk 120 7.64x
Surrey 109 1.73x
Northamptonshire 60 4.95x
Lancashire 58 0.38x
Kent 55 1.25x
Wiltshire 35 3.07x
Hampshire 30 1.14x
Oxfordshire 26 3.26x
Gloucestershire 21 0.83x
Hertfordshire 19 2.14x
Sussex 18 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.98x
Derbyshire 14 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.41x
Somerset 10 0.48x
Bedfordshire 6 0.90x
Glamorgan 5 0.22x
Durham 4 0.10x
Warwickshire 4 0.12x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.87x
Midlothian 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Flintshire 1 0.29x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.35x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brington in Northamptonshire leads with 41 Stows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1123.29x.

Place Total Index
Brington 41 1123.29x
Polstead 37 1010.93x
Islington London 28 2.24x
Lambeth 28 2.49x
Chelsea London 26 6.69x
Camberwell 23 2.79x
Great Horkesley 20 571.43x
Thornton In Bradford 20 47.01x
Dorrington 19 1079.55x
Newington 19 3.99x
Southcoates 19 26.78x
Barton St Peter 18 190.48x
Barton St Mary 17 164.41x
Colchester St Peter 17 166.99x
Great Wakering 17 298.77x
Stoke By Nayland 17 334.65x
Holy Trinity 16 5.21x
Mile End Old Town 16 7.86x
West Bergholt 16 336.84x
Messingham 15 300.00x
Ashby 14 216.72x
Assington 13 396.34x
Bradford 13 4.20x
Hampstead London 13 6.47x
Portsea 13 2.51x
Hadleigh 12 78.74x
Chipping Norton 11 59.75x
Ipswich St Margaret 11 20.64x
Great Little Marsden 10 14.27x
St Albans St Michael 10 100.70x
St George Hanover 10 5.94x
Burnley 9 6.98x
Croydon 9 2.58x
Keighley 9 6.61x
Kingston By Sea 9 260.12x
Trowbridge 9 17.85x
Woolwich 9 5.54x
Barrowford Booth 8 47.25x
Bermondsey 8 2.08x
Bow London 8 4.87x
Bromley London 8 2.82x
Chelsworth 8 740.74x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.63x
Cowling 8 96.50x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.36x
Great Grimsby 8 6.11x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 18.17x
Paddington London 8 1.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 3.08x
St Maryle Wigford 8 49.94x
Wick Abson 8 206.19x
Althorp 7 1750.00x
Aysgarth 7 429.45x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 5.76x
Brading 7 19.93x
Glusburn 7 96.95x
Headington 7 56.63x
Kensington London 7 0.98x
Olney 7 64.94x
Portsmouth 7 11.50x
Rotherhithe 7 4.39x
St Marylebone London 7 1.02x
Stoke Newington London 7 6.97x
Swarby 7 933.33x
Swindon 7 7.91x
Tonbridge 7 4.41x
West Lavington 7 127.97x
Boston 6 9.59x
Colchester St Botolph 6 27.71x
Devizes St Mary 6 52.04x
Glastonbury 6 35.42x
Lewisham 6 2.56x
Lexden 6 58.71x
Lower Beeding 6 103.81x
Sculcoates 6 2.96x
Sutton On Trent 6 140.85x
Ulceby 6 119.52x
Whitechapel London 6 4.72x
Yeadon 6 20.79x
Ruskington 5 95.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 67
John 64
Thomas 40
George 35
Charles 31
James 30
Alfred 27
Arthur 21
Henry 21
Edward 18
Joseph 18
Frederick 15
Harry 15
Samuel 15
Walter 15
Robert 14
Herbert 13
Richard 10
Albert 7
Ernest 7
Stephen 7
Benjamin 6
Frank 6
Christopher 5
Edwin 5
Elijah 5
Fred 4
Fredk. 4
Sidney 4
David 3
Jonas 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Allen 2
Arther 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
F. 2
Fenwick 2
Francis 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Stow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,323 people were recorded with the Stow surname. That placed it at #3,101 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016. That gives Stow a modern rank of #4,378.

What does the Stow surname mean?

A place of storage or shelter, often referring to someone who lived by a granary or barn.

What does the Stow map show?

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