Find out how popular the last name Awe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Awe.

Awe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Awe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Awe in America

Awe is the 22809th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Awe surname appeared 1,123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Awe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Awe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Awe

The surname Awe has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "awed," meaning "fearful" or "inspiring awe." The name was likely given to someone who had an imposing presence or commanded respect.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Awe can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls from Scottish nobles submitted to King Edward I of England. This indicates that the name was already well-established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Awe surname was closely associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. The name may have originated from a place name, such as the Isle of Awe or the village of Awe, both located in Argyllshire.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Awe, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Sir Robert was awarded lands in Argyllshire for his loyalty and bravery.

In the 16th century, the Awe family established themselves as landowners and lairds in the Highlands. John Awe of Lochgair, born around 1530, was a prominent figure in the clan conflicts of the time and is mentioned in several historical accounts.

Another significant individual with the Awe surname was Reverend William Awe, a Scottish minister and scholar who lived from 1628 to 1695. He was known for his theological writings and served as the minister of several parishes in Argyllshire.

During the 18th century, the Awe name spread beyond Scotland as some members of the family migrated to other parts of the British Isles and the Americas. Notable individuals from this period include Captain James Awe, an officer in the British Royal Navy, who was born in 1743 and served during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Awe surname gained further recognition with the achievements of Sir James Awe, a Scottish engineer and inventor born in 1810. He is credited with several important innovations in the field of steam power and played a crucial role in the industrial development of Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Awe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Awe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Awe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Awe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Awe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Awe, please contact us.

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