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

Bowersox, 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 Bowersox surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowersox in America

Bowersox is the 12411th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowersox surname appeared 2,505 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bowersox.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowersox 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 Bowersox

The surname Bowersox originated in Germany, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic words "bauer," meaning "farmer," and "socks," which referred to a type of footwear worn by farmers at the time. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who was a farmer or lived in an area known for farming.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bowersox can be found in the records of the town of Braunschweig, located in the northern region of Germany, where a family with the name Bowersox was documented in the late 1400s. It is possible that the name may have originated in this region and later spread to other parts of Germany and eventually to other countries.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as migration and travel became more common, some individuals with the surname Bowersox may have left Germany and settled in other parts of Europe or even in the Americas. However, historical records from this time period are limited, making it difficult to trace the exact movements of those bearing this name.

One notable individual with the surname Bowersox was Johann Bowersox, a German farmer and landowner who lived in the late 17th century. He is recorded as having owned a substantial amount of land in the region around the town of Kassel, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Another prominent figure was Friedrich Bowersox, born in 1732 in the town of Hannover, who served as a soldier in the Prussian army during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His military exploits were documented in several historical accounts of the time, and he was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, a notable individual with the surname Bowersox was Wilhelm Bowersox, a German scholar and linguist who was born in 1822 in the town of Heidelberg. He made significant contributions to the study of Germanic languages and published several influential works on the subject.

As the name Bowersox spread beyond Germany, it also took on various spellings and variations. In the United States, for example, some variations include Bauerssocks, Bauersox, and Bowersocks. These variations likely arose as a result of different pronunciations and interpretations of the original German name when it was recorded by officials or clerks who were unfamiliar with the language.

Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the surname Bowersox has persisted throughout history, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. While its origins may be rooted in the agricultural communities of Germany, the name has since transcended these humble beginnings and become a part of the rich tapestry of global surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowersox

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

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

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

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