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

Bowdery, 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 Bowdery surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowdery in America

Bowdery is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowdery surname appeared 121 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 Bowdery.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowdery 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 Bowdery

The surname BOWDERY has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "boga" and "deru," which collectively translate to "dweller by the curve or bend." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers resided near a bend in a river or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BOWDERY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1198, where a man named Radulfus Boghedere is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name likely evolved from "Boghedere" to its modern form over the centuries.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Bogheddre mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. This entry demonstrates the name's continued presence in various regions of England during that period.

The BOWDERY surname is also linked to the place name "Bowderydene," which was a township located in the parish of Coniscliffe, County Durham. This connection suggests that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their association with this specific location.

Notable individuals bearing the BOWDERY surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John BOWDERY (1542-1616), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for West Looe in 1597.
2. Thomas BOWDERY (1612-1677), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Coniscliffe, County Durham.
3. Elizabeth BOWDERY (1678-1758), a prominent philanthropist in Bristol, England, who founded the BOWDERY Almshouses for the poor.
4. William BOWDERY (1719-1792), a British naval captain who served during the American Revolutionary War and is known for his involvement in the Battle of Yorktown.
5. Margaret BOWDERY (1832-1901), a British novelist and short story writer, known for her works depicting life in rural England.

While the BOWDERY surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the early inhabitants of England who settled near bends or curves in the landscape, leaving a lasting legacy in this distinctive and historically significant surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowdery

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

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 Bowdery 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 Bowdery 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 Bowdery was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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