NameCensus.

UK surname

Vowell

An occupational surname referring to a person who played the viola or violin in medieval times.

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Vowell surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eardisley, London parishes and Thornford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Wyre and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vowell is 126 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.3%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2003

126 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vowell had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Vowell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vowell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vowell 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Vowells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eardisley, London parishes, Thornford, Stranton and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Wyre and Northumberland. 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 Eardisley Radnorshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Thornford Dorset
4 Stranton Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 004 Mendip
2 Mendip 007 Mendip
3 Wyre 005 Wyre
4 Northumberland 015 Northumberland
5 Mendip 003 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vowell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vowell

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Vowell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Vowell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Vowell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Vowell is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vowell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vowell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Vowell

The surname Vowell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "vowel" or "vowell," which referred to a person who sold or dealt in fowl, such as chickens, geese, and other poultry. This name was likely an occupational surname, indicating the profession or trade of the family.

The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of land ownership and taxation, the name appears as "Vowell" and "Vowel."

One of the earliest known individuals to bear this surname was Robert Vowell, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327. Another notable example is Thomas Vowell, a merchant and alderman in the city of Oxford, who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, variations of the spelling emerged, including "Vowle," "Voule," and "Vowles." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced in different areas.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the surname Vowell. However, it does mention several place names that may have been associated with the surname's origins, such as Vowchurch in Herefordshire and Vowley in Berkshire.

One notable individual with the surname Vowell was John Vowell, also known as John Hooker (c. 1524-1601), an English historian and antiquarian who wrote several works on the history of Exeter and Devon. Another was Samuel Vowell (c. 1597-1646), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Suffolk.

Other individuals with this surname include Elizabeth Vowell (c. 1600-1676), an English Puritan author and religious writer, and John Vowell (c. 1575-1632), a Member of Parliament from Gloucestershire during the reign of King James I.

While the surname Vowell is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history and can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the occupational origins of many English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vowell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vowell 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. Durham leads with 24 Vowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.92x.

County Total Index
Durham 24 12.92x
Middlesex 20 3.20x
Dorset 7 17.09x
Monmouthshire 4 8.86x
Sussex 3 2.85x
Glamorgan 2 1.84x
Lancashire 2 0.27x
Kent 1 0.47x
Staffordshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 11 Vowells recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.01x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 11 69.01x
Stockton On Tees 10 111.73x
Thornford 7 7777.78x
St George In East 6 141.18x
Westminster St 6 260.87x
St Woollos 4 79.37x
Barrow In Furness 2 19.84x
Gateshead 2 14.38x
Hampstead London 2 20.58x
Llanwonno 2 51.15x
Mayfield 2 322.58x
St Marylebone London 2 6.00x
St Pancras London 2 3.98x
Boldon 1 151.52x
Brighton 1 4.71x
Chelsea London 1 5.32x
Finchley 1 41.84x
Gillingham 1 22.78x
Tipton 1 15.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Blanche 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannh 1
Ida 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Milly 1
Typhew 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
John 3
Robert 3
William 3
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Chapman 1
David 1
Edward 1
Griffith 1
Inigo 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Vowell households.

FAQ

Vowell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vowell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Vowell surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vowell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Vowell a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Vowell surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who played the viola or violin in medieval times.

What does the Vowell map show?

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