NameCensus.

UK surname

Towndrow

From the town enclosure or cattle pen.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Towndrow surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brampton, Wingfield, North and Ashover. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Towndrow is 397 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.3%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

2002

397 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Towndrow had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 366 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Towndrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Towndrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Towndrow 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 173 #11,629
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 262 #12,297
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 366 #9,936
1997 modern 386 #11,295
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 397 #11,497
2003 modern 379 #11,714
2004 modern 376 #11,798
2005 modern 350 #12,359
2006 modern 339 #12,754
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 344 #13,138
2010 modern 349 #13,280
2011 modern 352 #13,032
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 350 #13,186
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 334 #13,645
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

Back to top

Where Towndrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brampton, Wingfield, North, Ashover, Kettering and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Brampton Derbyshire
2 Wingfield, North Derbyshire
3 Ashover Derbyshire
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 Leigh Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire
2 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
3 North East Derbyshire 009 North East Derbyshire
4 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
5 North East Derbyshire 011 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Towndrow

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Towndrow

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Towndrow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Towndrow 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

Towndrow 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 Towndrow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Towndrow

The surname TOWNDROW has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning a town or village, and "drow" meaning a path or track. This suggests that the name may have originated as a place name, referring to a settlement located along a well-trodden path or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where it appears as "Tundrowe." This variation in spelling is not uncommon for surnames of this era, as standardized spellings were not yet established. Over time, the name evolved to its modern form, TOWNDROW.

The TOWNDROW surname is closely linked to several place names in Yorkshire, such as Tundrow and Tondrowe. These place names likely served as the original descriptive surnames for families residing in or near these locations. As people migrated and the use of hereditary surnames became more widespread, these place-based names were adopted as permanent family names.

Historically, the TOWNDROW name appears in various records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. One notable reference is found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1315, which mentions a John de Tundrowe. This provides evidence of the surname's use in the 14th century.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the TOWNDROW surname is William Towndrow, who was born in Yorkshire in the late 16th century. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Towndrow, born in 1642 in Bingley, Yorkshire, whose descendants can be traced through parish records.

Prominent figures with the TOWNDROW surname include:

1. Sir John Towndrow (1742-1821), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. 2. Elizabeth Towndrow (1795-1872), an English author and poet known for her works on religious themes. 3. William Towndrow (1820-1895), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare in his hometown of Bradford, Yorkshire. 4. James Towndrow (1857-1923), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral in the early 20th century. 5. Margaret Towndrow (1912-1997), a British artist and educator known for her landscape paintings and her work as an art teacher in London.

The TOWNDROW surname has a rich history rooted in the villages and towns of Yorkshire, England. Its evolution from a place name to a hereditary surname reflects the changing patterns of name adoption and the enduring influence of geography on family nomenclature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Towndrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Towndrow 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. Derbyshire leads with 72 Towndrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.21x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 72 25.21x
Middlesex 28 1.53x
Lancashire 23 1.06x
Worcestershire 18 7.56x
Surrey 15 1.69x
Nottinghamshire 8 3.25x
Northamptonshire 7 4.08x
Yorkshire 6 0.33x
Devon 5 1.32x
Durham 5 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashover in Derbyshire leads with 38 Towndrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2676.06x.

Place Total Index
Ashover 38 2676.06x
Leigh 18 622.84x
Bow London 13 55.99x
Hulme 9 19.92x
Newington 8 11.87x
Claylane 7 176.32x
Bethnal Green London 6 7.57x
Blackwell 6 428.57x
Everton 6 8.70x
Kettering 6 86.46x
Nottingham St Mary 6 9.44x
Parr 6 77.52x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 13.60x
Norton 5 251.26x
Axminster 4 224.72x
Mile End Old Town 4 13.89x
Shirland 4 186.92x
Wessington 4 1052.63x
Eckington 3 43.23x
Islington London 3 1.70x
Lambeth 3 1.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 8.17x
Staveley 3 59.17x
Brampton 2 50.13x
Duffield 2 88.89x
Liverpool 2 1.52x
Brackenfield 1 500.00x
Ecclesfield 1 7.55x
Epsom 1 23.09x
Newstead 1 166.67x
Oundle 1 52.08x
Quarndon 1 285.71x
Radford 1 8.01x
Shoreditch London 1 1.26x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.76x
Willesden 1 5.82x
Wingfield South 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 6
Harriett 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Annie 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Corinna 1
Dorothy 1
Elizeabth 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
Thomas 9
John 7
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Edward 5
George 5
Frank 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Bertram 1
Ebenezer 1
Fran. 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Gavisford 1
Geo. 1
Harrey 1
Harry 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Oswin 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Syd. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W.E. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Towndrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Towndrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Towndrow surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Towndrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Towndrow a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Towndrow surname mean?

From the town enclosure or cattle pen.

What does the Towndrow map show?

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