NameCensus.

UK surname

Towey

An Irish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "leader" or "chief."

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Towey surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 654, ranked #8,139, up from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Eccles and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, St. Helens and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Towey is 671 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 238.9%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

654

2016, ranked #8,139

Peak year

2009

671 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Towey had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 654 in 2016, ranked #8,139.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 307 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Towey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Towey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Towey 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 243 #13,011
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 307 #11,257
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 667 #7,764
1999 modern 663 #7,825
2000 modern 663 #7,816
2001 modern 640 #7,883
2002 modern 669 #7,776
2003 modern 653 #7,809
2004 modern 660 #7,748
2005 modern 638 #7,893
2006 modern 648 #7,819
2007 modern 653 #7,834
2008 modern 650 #7,918
2009 modern 671 #7,891
2010 modern 668 #8,076
2011 modern 669 #7,975
2012 modern 656 #8,011
2013 modern 665 #8,068
2014 modern 664 #8,115
2015 modern 649 #8,210
2016 modern 654 #8,139

Geography

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Where Toweys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Eccles, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Liverpool and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, St. Helens, North Devon, Stratford-on-Avon and Manchester. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
2 St. Helens 011 St. Helens
3 North Devon 003 North Devon
4 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Manchester 038 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Towey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Towey

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Towey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Towey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Towey 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

Towey 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

Towey 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 Towey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Towey

The surname Towey is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Mayo and Sligo. It is thought to have derived from the Gaelic word "tuath," which means "people" or "territory." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a particular clan or group of people from a specific region.

One of the earliest records of the surname Towey can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the entry for the year 1350, there is a mention of a person named "Towey O'Gara," suggesting that the name was already in use during that time period.

The Towey surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland. For instance, there is a townland called Towey in County Mayo, which may have been the original homeland of some families bearing the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Towey surname. One such person was Seán Towey (1869-1949), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He served as a Member of Parliament for the South Mayo constituency from 1900 to 1918.

Another prominent figure with the Towey surname was Patrick Towey (1887-1955), an Irish republican and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was arrested and imprisoned for his involvement in the Easter Rising of 1916.

In the 18th century, there was a family of Toweys who owned land in County Sligo. One member of this family, Michael Towey (1756-1832), was a landowner and served as a High Sheriff of County Sligo in 1794.

Moving further back in time, there are records of a Towey family residing in County Mayo during the 17th century. A man named John Towey (c. 1620-1685) is mentioned in local records as owning property in the area.

It is worth noting that the spelling of the surname has varied over time, with alternative forms such as Touhey, Towhy, and Towey all being used. This was common practice in Ireland before standardized spelling became more widespread.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Towey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Towey 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. Staffordshire leads with 58 Toweys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.13x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 58 9.13x
Lancashire 51 2.28x
Cheshire 24 5.78x
Yorkshire 24 1.29x
Derbyshire 11 3.73x
Warwickshire 7 1.47x
Northamptonshire 5 2.82x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
Durham 3 0.54x
Essex 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.48x
Northumberland 1 0.36x
Worcestershire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 36 Toweys recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.42x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 36 53.42x
Warrington 15 56.65x
Burnley 9 47.85x
Worsley 8 58.10x
Burton Extra 7 192.31x
Wolstanton 7 36.27x
Aston 6 4.59x
Horton In Bradford 6 20.60x
Stockport 6 28.05x
Dringhouses 5 1666.67x
Hayfield 5 276.24x
Toxteth Park 5 6.61x
St Pancras London 4 2.64x
Aston By Sutton 3 1666.67x
Halifax 3 10.95x
Hazelbeech 3 3000.00x
Liverpool 3 2.21x
Tutbury 3 193.55x
Dutton 2 689.66x
Easingwold 2 151.52x
Failsworth 2 39.14x
Hilston 2 6666.67x
Huyton With Roby 2 76.34x
Little Sutton 2 357.14x
Market Weighton Arras 2 165.29x
Marston Upon Dove 2 210.53x
Middlewich 2 232.56x
Sheffield 2 3.37x
Stone 2 24.60x
Sutton In Runcorn 2 833.33x
Westhoughton 2 33.56x
Whitworth 2 48.78x
Acton In Northwich 1 263.16x
Aston Grange 1 5000.00x
Bakewell 1 62.11x
Barton Seagrave 1 666.67x
Brinnington 1 25.77x
Bywell St Peter 1 1250.00x
Congleton 1 13.93x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.02x
Dunstall 1 555.56x
East Ham 1 14.49x
Exhall 1 138.89x
Hanbury 1 285.71x
Haydock 1 25.97x
Hugglescote 1 32.57x
Kingsley 1 129.87x
Macclesfield 1 5.41x
Maidwell 1 526.32x
Matlock 1 25.25x
Northwood 1 18.21x
Salford 1 1.52x
Seven Oaks 1 909.09x
Stapenhill 1 22.78x
Sunderland 1 10.11x
Tatenhill 1 232.56x
Tickhill 1 84.03x
Walton Le Dale 1 16.67x
Weston On Trent 1 526.32x
Whittingham 1 102.04x
Wigan 1 3.20x
Yardley 1 15.90x
York St Peter Le 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Catherine 10
Ellen 8
Ann 7
Bridget 4
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Cathrine 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bedilia 1
Ellin 1
Emma 1
Katherine 1
Lusia 1
Marry 1
Rosehannah 1
Sarah 1
Sarahann 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
Thomas 16
James 14
Martin 7
Andrew 6
Michael 6
Patrick 6
Matthew 4
Thos. 4
Joseph 3
Michal 3
William 3
Anthony 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Hugh 2
Barnard 1
Catherine 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Lacky 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Partrck 1
Pat 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Towey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Towey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Towey surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Towey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 654 in 2016. That gives Towey a modern rank of #8,139.

What does the Towey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "leader" or "chief."

What does the Towey map show?

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