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

Bowens, 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 Bowens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowens in America

Bowens is the 3861st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowens surname appeared 9,188 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Bowens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowens 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 Bowens

The surname Bowens originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the Old English word "bogenere," which referred to a skilled archer or bowman. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by individuals whose profession involved archery or the crafting of bows.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bowens can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Bouginer, Bowyner, and Boughiner appearing in historical documents. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert le Boughiner.

During the 14th century, the name Bowens began to spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. This geographic distribution suggests that the surname may have originated in these areas, where archery and the production of bows were significant occupations.

In the Domesday Book, a valuable record of landowners and tenants in 11th century England, there are no direct references to the surname Bowens. However, this does not preclude the possibility that individuals with this occupation existed during that time, as surnames were still in their infancy.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Bowens include:

1. John Bowens (c. 1480-1556), a renowned English archer who served under King Henry VIII and participated in various military campaigns.
2. Elizabeth Bowens (1606-1672), a Puritan settler in New England and one of the founders of the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts.
3. Sir William Bowens (1640-1712), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Vigo Bay during the War of the Spanish Succession.
4. Edward Bowens (1788-1868), an English poet and writer known for his works on nature and rural life.
5. Mary Bowens (1811-1891), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Bowens has also been associated with various place names, such as Bowenshall in Yorkshire and Bowensfield in Lincolnshire, further reinforcing its ties to specific geographic regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowens

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

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

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

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