UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "at the tow hills," referring to hills where flax was grown and processed.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Towles surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Towles is 191 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.8%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
191 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Towles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Towles surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 166 | #14,039 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 191 | #15,437 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Dundry, Winford, Nempnett Thrubwell, Blagdon, Butcombe | Somerset |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Towles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Towles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Towles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Towles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Towles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Towles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Towles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Towles is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "tun," meaning an enclosure or a small settlement, combined with the word "hyll," signifying a hill. Thus, the name likely originated from a place name, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname hailed from a hillside village or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Towles can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Tunhyll," referring to a location near present-day Hampshire.
By the 13th century, the surname had evolved into various spellings, such as Townhill, Townell, and Townshill, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. These early spellings provide insights into the name's development and its association with specific localities.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Towles throughout history include Sir John Towles (1568-1634), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Salisbury during the reign of King James I. Another noteworthy figure was Richard Towles (1670-1736), a renowned architect and master builder responsible for designing several churches and estates in the county of Wiltshire.
In the 18th century, the Towles family gained recognition through the accomplishments of William Towles (1712-1792), a highly regarded philosopher and author whose works contributed to the Enlightenment movement. His contemporary, Elizabeth Towles (1724-1805), was a celebrated poet and playwright, known for her poignant verses and influential literary contributions.
During the 19th century, the name Towles gained further prominence with the emergence of Sir Edward Towles (1818-1896), a distinguished military officer and colonial administrator who played a pivotal role in the expansion of the British Empire in India and Africa.
While the surname Towles has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated to different regions over the centuries. However, its rich history and connection to the English countryside remain etched in its etymology and the legacy of those who have borne this name throughout the ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Towles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 15 Towles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 3.34x |
| Leicestershire | 12 | 24.12x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 1.31x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 5.80x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.91x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.28x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.65x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 8 Towles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 8 | 41.13x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 7 | 57.71x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 42.96x |
| Thringstone | 5 | 2631.58x |
| Marham | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Leeds | 3 | 11.95x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 12.52x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 10.26x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 8.02x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 5.11x |
| Little Bolton | 1 | 14.60x |
| Moss Side | 1 | 35.71x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 95.24x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 6.23x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 1 | 14.60x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Towles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Towles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Towles households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Domestic | 2 |
| Grocer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| (General Servant Domestic) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Baker & Confectioner Emp 2 Men | 1 |
| Boot Machinist | 1 |
| Coal Labr (Miner) | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressing Table Maker | 1 |
| Gardener (ND) | 1 |
| Hosiery Hand | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
| Telegraph Inspector | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Towles surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Towles a modern rank of #39,061.
Derived from a place name meaning "at the tow hills," referring to hills where flax was grown and processed.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Towles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.