2000
#85,297
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 204
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Bowcock
A surname derived from the archaic occupation of a maker or seller of bows and arrows.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 221 Americans carry the last name Bowcock. That puts it at #100,083 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,550,925 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bowcock surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Bowcock with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
221
1 in 1,550,925
Census rank
#100,083
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
193
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 193 bearers of the surname Bowcock in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 100083rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bowcock
The surname Bowcock has its roots in England, originating during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "boga" meaning "bow" and "cocc" meaning "maker or shooter." Thus, the name Bowcock likely referred to someone who crafted or used bows and arrows, suggesting an association with archery or hunting.
One of the earliest records of the name Bowcock appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where it is spelled "Boghcok." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spellings had not yet been established. Over time, the name evolved into its current form, Bowcock.
The name Bowcock can also be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, indicating its presence in the region. These early records provide valuable insights into the geographical spread and prevalence of the surname during its formative years.
Notable individuals bearing the Bowcock surname include John Bowcock (c. 1545-1621), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in York. Another prominent figure was William Bowcock (1680-1755), a landowner and Justice of the Peace in Buckinghamshire.
In the 18th century, the Bowcock name gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Bowcock (1737-1819), a renowned clockmaker from London. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after and can still be found in museums and private collections today.
The 19th century saw the rise of James Bowcock (1824-1899), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur from Lancashire. He established a successful cotton mill and played a significant role in the region's industrial growth.
Another individual of note is Sir Edgar Bowcock (1894-1976), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize) from 1949 to 1954. His contribution to the region's governance and development during the colonial era was widely recognized.
Throughout its history, the surname Bowcock has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Lancashire. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its connection to archery and hunting remains a fascinating aspect of its origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bowcock
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bowcock bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bowcock surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.9% · 160
- Two or more races8.3% · 16
- Hispanic or Latino6.2% · 12
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 2
- Black or African American0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bowcock
Bowcock appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#91,625
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 201
-3 bearers (-1.5%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Down 6,328 places
2020
#100,083
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 193
-8 bearers (-4.0%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 8,458 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #85,297 | 204 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #91,625 | 201 | 0.07 | -3 bearers (-1.5%) | Down 6,328 places |
| 2020 | #100,083 | 193 | 0.06 | -8 bearers (-4.0%) | Down 8,458 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bowcock surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #91,625 | #100,083 | -9.2% |
| Count | 201 | 193 | -4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.06 | -7.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bowcock bearers went from 201 to 193 (-4.0% change). The surname moved down 8,458 positions in the national ranking, going from #91,625 to #100,083.
FAQ
Bowcock surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bowcock?
Name Census estimates that about 221 living Americans carry the surname Bowcock. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,550,925 residents.
How common is Bowcock?
Bowcock ranks #100,083 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 193 people with the surname Bowcock. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (221), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bowcock.
Has Bowcock become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bowcock went from 201 recorded bearers to 193. That is a decrease of 8 (-4.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #91,625 to #100,083.
What does the Census say about the background of Bowcock?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowcock, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bowcock in the 2020 Census, accounting for 82.9% (160 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bowcock appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (82.9%), Two or More Races (8.3%), Hispanic (6.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bowcock (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bowcock mean?
A surname derived from the archaic occupation of a maker or seller of bows and arrows. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bowcock (0.06 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Bowcock?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.