NameCensus.

UK surname

Trower

A name of occupational origin referring to a trumpet player or horn-blower.

In the 1881 census there were 485 people recorded with the Trower surname, ranking it #6,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 868, ranked #6,467, up from #6,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Horsham and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trower is 897 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.0%.

1881 census count

485

Ranked #6,931

Modern count

868

2016, ranked #6,467

Peak year

2000

897 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trower had 485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016, ranked #6,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 756 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trower surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trower surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trower 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 474 #5,250
1861 historical 387 #6,620
1881 historical 485 #6,931
1891 historical 550 #6,881
1901 historical 756 #5,902
1911 historical 737 #5,816
1997 modern 836 #6,318
1998 modern 874 #6,298
1999 modern 895 #6,227
2000 modern 897 #6,187
2001 modern 865 #6,253
2002 modern 884 #6,264
2003 modern 847 #6,366
2004 modern 853 #6,335
2005 modern 825 #6,448
2006 modern 832 #6,412
2007 modern 850 #6,374
2008 modern 869 #6,300
2009 modern 880 #6,381
2010 modern 894 #6,424
2011 modern 875 #6,465
2012 modern 883 #6,331
2013 modern 886 #6,416
2014 modern 879 #6,489
2015 modern 872 #6,467
2016 modern 868 #6,467

Geography

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Where Trowers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Paddington and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Horsham, East Hertfordshire, Ashfield and Telford and Wrekin. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Horsham 016 Horsham
3 East Hertfordshire 018 East Hertfordshire
4 Ashfield 011 Ashfield
5 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trower

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trower

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Trower is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Trower is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trower falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trower

The surname Trower has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "trog," meaning a trough or a wooden vessel for holding water or food for animals. Over time, this word evolved into "trowere," which referred to a person who made or sold troughs or similar wooden vessels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Trower can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a Henry le Trowere is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region during the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Trowere, Trouere, and Trougher, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. The Trower family was particularly prominent in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset during this period.

The Trower surname is also associated with several place names, such as Trowers Hill in Worcestershire and Trowers Farm in Somerset. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname or could have influenced the development of the surname itself.

Notable individuals with the surname Trower include:

1. John Trower (c. 1585-1666), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. 2. Walter Trower (1666-1736), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and buildings in London. 3. Sarah Trower (1779-1856), a British author and educator who wrote several books on geography and history for children. 4. Edmund Trower (1825-1898), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 19th century. 5. George Trower (1872-1952), an English artist and illustrator known for his watercolor paintings of landscapes and rural scenes.

While the Trower surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, through emigration and migration patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trower families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trower 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 153 Trowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 153 3.23x
Sussex 83 10.38x
Surrey 73 3.16x
Norfolk 66 9.05x
Kent 35 2.16x
Lincolnshire 15 1.98x
Yorkshire 11 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 10 3.33x
Hertfordshire 6 1.84x
Glamorgan 5 0.61x
Lanarkshire 4 0.26x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.50x
Gloucestershire 3 0.32x
Essex 2 0.21x
Herefordshire 2 1.03x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Stirlingshire 2 1.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.48x
Berkshire 1 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.77x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Trowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.18x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 24.18x
Shoreditch London 36 17.52x
Upwell 25 737.46x
Islington London 23 5.01x
Reigate Foreign 18 71.97x
Bromley 17 68.97x
Chelsea London 16 11.20x
Hove 16 45.62x
Kensington London 14 5.31x
Paddington London 13 7.46x
Carshalton 10 113.12x
Enfield 9 28.93x
Littlehampton 9 141.07x
Penge 9 29.72x
Southery 9 468.75x
Welney 9 538.92x
North Forty Foot Bank 8 2500.00x
Plumstead 8 14.84x
St Mary At Hill London 8 2424.24x
Sutton 8 47.88x
Upwell 7 318.18x
Battersea 6 3.44x
Horncastle 6 76.73x
Hoveton St John 6 1250.00x
Stanstead Abbots 6 303.03x
Downham Market 5 99.80x
Lambeth 5 1.21x
Lewisham 5 5.80x
Poplar London 5 5.59x
St George Hanover 5 8.08x
Swansea Town 5 7.39x
Aldeby 4 384.62x
Barony 4 1.03x
Bermondsey 4 2.83x
Brightside Bierlow 4 4.34x
St Marylebone London 4 1.58x
Stoke Newington London 4 10.83x
Burwash 3 80.86x
Hampstead London 3 4.06x
Outwell 3 212.77x
Pembrey 3 32.64x
Shere 3 107.53x
Shipley 3 165.75x
St Pancras London 3 0.79x
Wisbech St Peter 3 19.92x
Wonersh 3 104.17x
Albourne 2 400.00x
Beckenham 2 9.46x
Billingshurst 2 76.34x
Campsie 2 20.83x
Cromer 2 77.22x
Dowdeswell 2 246.91x
Guildford Holy Trinity 2 45.45x
Hornsey 2 3.34x
Horsham 2 12.88x
Kirstead 2 606.06x
Ledbury 2 29.94x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.67x
Preston 2 14.33x
Ratcliffe London 2 7.64x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 15.74x
Wortley In Bramley 2 5.37x
Ashford 1 26.67x
Ashover 1 27.10x
Beswick 1 6.95x
Broadwater 1 5.46x
Camberwell 1 0.33x
Catton 1 81.97x
Croydon 1 0.78x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 24.51x
Hogsthorpe 1 85.47x
Hurstpierpoint 1 22.47x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.80x
Lewes St John Southover 1 18.62x
Liverpool 1 0.29x
Ludgershall 1 125.00x
Orsett 1 40.98x
Peterborough 1 3.10x
Uckfield 1 28.74x
Wolverton 1 16.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 21
George 19
Thomas 16
James 14
Charles 13
Henry 10
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Robert 7
Edward 6
Ernest 6
Albert 5
Walter 5
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Joseph 3
Percy 3
Richard 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Joshua 2
Archibald 1
Christopher 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Gerard 1
Gilbert 1
Greenwood 1
H.P.B. 1
H.Seymour 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jasper 1
Josiah 1
Lionel 1
Matthew 1
Mervyen 1
Phillory 1
Samuel 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Trower surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trower surname in 1881?

In 1881, 485 people were recorded with the Trower surname. That placed it at #6,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trower surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016. That gives Trower a modern rank of #6,467.

What does the Trower surname mean?

A name of occupational origin referring to a trumpet player or horn-blower.

What does the Trower map show?

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