NameCensus.

UK surname

Stowers

An English occupational surname for a keeper of livestock or an officer in charge of the livestock on an estate.

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Stowers surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, down from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Torridge and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stowers is 322 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

1911

322 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stowers had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 322 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Stowers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stowers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stowers 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 270 #12,492
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 299 #13,758
2002 modern 300 #13,990
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 274 #14,769
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 264 #15,468
2009 modern 277 #15,260
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 270 #16,020
2015 modern 257 #16,475
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Stowers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Torridge, Colchester and Ceredigion. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
2 Torridge 001 Torridge
3 Colchester 019 Colchester
4 Thurrock 012 Thurrock
5 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stowers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stowers

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Stowers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Stowers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Stowers is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stowers is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stowers 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 Stowers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stowers

The surname Stowers is of English origin, derived from the occupation of a stockman or keeper of cattle pens. It is believed to have originated in the 14th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being Stour, referring to a cattle enclosure.

The name is thought to have its roots in the Old English word "stōr," meaning a young bullock or steer, and the suffix "-er," indicating an occupation or trade. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely involved in the care and management of cattle herds.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John le Stowere is listed. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the cattle-related occupation during the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Stower, Stowre, and Stowars, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. This variation continued until the late 17th century when the spelling "Stowers" became more standardized.

Notable individuals with the surname Stowers include Sir Richard Stowers (1577-1628), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bridport, Dorset. Another noteworthy figure was William Stowers (1605-1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex.

In the 18th century, John Stowers (1719-1799) was an English engraver and artist known for his landscape paintings and engravings. During the same period, Nicholas Stowers (1730-1806) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Henry Stowers (1818-1892), an English cricketer who played for the Nottinghamshire county cricket team. He was also a renowned architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in Nottingham.

While the surname Stowers is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and the occupation of cattle herding. Its evolution from the Old English word "stōr" to its present form reflects the linguistic and cultural changes that have shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stowers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stowers 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. Essex leads with 52 Stowers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.00x.

County Total Index
Essex 52 15.00x
Norfolk 34 12.59x
Middlesex 29 1.65x
Kent 28 4.67x
Surrey 23 2.69x
Dorset 5 4.34x
Berkshire 4 3.04x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.35x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.87x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Stephen in Norfolk leads with 11 Stowers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 443.55x.

Place Total Index
Norwich St Stephen 11 443.55x
Hadleigh 9 3214.29x
Heigham 9 62.11x
Hackney London 8 8.13x
Lambeth 8 5.23x
Chatham 6 36.41x
Wennington 6 5000.00x
Aveley 5 862.07x
Burnham 5 390.63x
Great Coggeshall 5 277.78x
Islington London 5 2.94x
Lynsted 5 641.03x
Milton In Milton 5 196.08x
Norwich St George Tombland 5 1063.83x
Sittingbourne 5 105.71x
St George In East 5 41.88x
Battersea 4 6.19x
Clapham 4 18.22x
Grays Thurrock 4 124.22x
Maldon St Marys 4 481.93x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 4 519.48x
Sherborne 4 117.99x
West Thurrock 4 347.83x
Woolwich 4 18.08x
Gillingham 3 24.29x
Newington 3 4.63x
Shoreditch London 3 3.94x
St Marylebone London 3 3.20x
Bow London 2 8.95x
Camberwell 2 1.78x
Feering 2 434.78x
Lingwood 2 833.33x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 2 121.95x
Orsett 2 222.22x
Pangbourn 2 454.55x
Rotherhithe 2 9.22x
Waltham St Lawrence 2 384.62x
Bocking 1 48.08x
Chingford 1 119.05x
Great Waltham 1 70.92x
Hammersmith London 1 2.31x
Hendon 1 15.82x
Hove 1 7.70x
Kirkdale 1 2.85x
Llannon 1 99.01x
Newport 1 166.67x
Poplar London 1 3.02x
Prittlewell 1 20.83x
St Lawrence Newland 1 769.23x
Weymouth 1 45.87x
Wolstanton 1 5.56x
Woodwalton 1 588.24x
Wymondham 1 36.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 6
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Ann 3
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Elizibth. 1
Fanny 1
Gurtrude 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Norah 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Selinia 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 11
Henry 11
Thomas 8
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
James 4
Edward 3
John 3
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Frederick 1
Gifford 1
Isaac 1
Lazarus 1
Lewes 1
Nowell 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Stowers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stowers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Stowers surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stowers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Stowers a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Stowers surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a keeper of livestock or an officer in charge of the livestock on an estate.

What does the Stowers map show?

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