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

Bowery, 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 Bowery surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowery in America

Bowery is the 38850th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowery surname appeared 568 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 Bowery.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowery 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 Bowery

The surname Bowery originated in England during the medieval era, primarily in the county of Hertfordshire. It is derived from the Old English words "bogere" or "bougre," which referred to an archery practitioner or a maker of bows. This connection suggests that the name's earliest bearers were likely associated with the craft of bow-making or archery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire from 1195, where a certain Robert le Bougre was mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 12th century and its potential link to the archery trade.

The surname Bowery has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Bowyer, Bougre, and Boughre. These variations reflect the evolving nature of English spelling and pronunciation over time.

In the 13th century, a record from the Curia Regis Rolls of 1225 mentions a William le Boghere, further solidifying the name's connection to the archery profession during that period.

Notably, the surname Bowery appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference highlights the antiquity of the name and its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Bowery throughout history, one can mention:

1. Sir William Bowyer (c. 1512-1584), an English statesman and Lord Mayor of London.
2. Robert Bowyer (1758-1825), an English printer and publisher from Palgrave, Suffolk.
3. Thomas Bowery (1733-1806), an English engraver and watercolorist known for his landscapes and architectural works.
4. Eliza Bowery (1783-1859), an English writer and novelist, author of the popular novel "The Heir of Montault."
5. John Bowery (1592-1663), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

The surname Bowery has a rich history rooted in the English archery tradition and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including statesmen, artists, and academics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowery

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

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

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

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