This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Lowther' a parish in Cumberland In the Household Books of Lord William Howard of Naworth Castle (Surt. Soc.) the name is spelt variously as Lowther, Louther, Lowder, and Louder.

Robertus de Louther, 1310, Westmorland. Writs of Parliament.

Hugo de Louthre, 1319, Cumberland, ibid.

Ann Lowder, 1622, Cumberland: WV.

Sir John Lowther, of Whitehaven, had two daughters baptized in London at the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. They are thus entered:

1664. Baptised — Catherine, d. of Sir John Lowder, knight: Transactions Cumb. and Westm. Ant. and Arch. Soc. pt.

1667. — Jane, d. of Sir John Lowther: ibid.

1606. Rowland Lowder, of Staveley, in Cartmell: Lancashire Wills at Richmond.

1670. Rowland Lowther, of Stayley, in Cartmell: ibid.

1796. Married — Anthony Jackson, husbandman, and Betty Lowther: St. Mary, Ulverston.

(Celtic) belonging to Lowther (West­moreland), named from the River Lowther.

Thomas de Lauthir.—Inq. P.M., A.D. 1246.

MIF 150; Bibl

A parish in Westmoreland, the cradle of the ancient race so called. "Eminently a knightly family, traced by Brydges to Sir Gervase de Lowther, who was living in the reign of Henry II." Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men. The Earl of Lonsdale, the head of the house, is resident at Lowther Castle, in the above-named parish.

Or Malcael. Hervey, Ralph Malcael, Normandy 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). One of these paid a fine in the Bailifry of Coutances 1198 (Ib.). Also Tieric Malus Catulus 1198 (Ib.). Helto Malus Catulus or Malcael, t. William I. had a grant of Crakanthorpe and other estates Westmoreland. He granted lands to Holm Cultram Abbey, and had, 1, Ralph of Crakanthorpe, father of William Mauchael, t. Stephen, whose son William Malus Catulus granted to Geoffry M. lands in Crakanthorpe 1179, and was ancestor of the Malcaels Lords of Crakanthorpe, and the family of Crakanthorpe; 2, Humphry Malcael, Lord of Lowther, who granted part of that Church to Holm Cultram (Mon. ii. 74). His son Geoffry Malcanelle, t. Henry II. granted lands at Crakanthorpe to Alexander de Crakanthorpe, and had issue William and Thomas de Lowther, who, 12th cent., witnessed a charter to Holm Cultram Abbey (Ib. 428). Roger Malus Catulus, a third brother, was Vice-Chancellor to Richard Cœur de Lion (Madox, Exch. i. 77). These particulars have been chiefly gathered from Nicholson and Burns (344,345). From this family descend the Earls of Lonsdale, the Lords Crofton, and the Baronets Lowther.

A location name in Cumberland.

The two notable Cumberland families of Lowther, of Lowther, and Lamplugh, of Lamplugh, are amongst the oldest in that county; their names frequently figure in the list of sheriffs of Cumberland from the 14th to the 16th century (H.). The Lowthers, however, are not now numerous enough to be placed in my list, but Lowther Castle is still in the family; whilst the Lamplughs, who are now rare in their early home, have their present abode in the Hull district of Yorkshire, and are referred to under that county.