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

Bowie, 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 Bowie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowie in America

Bowie is the 3039th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowie surname appeared 11,786 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Bowie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowie 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 Bowie

The surname BOWIE has its origins in Scotland and England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bugh" or "bowe," which means a bend or curve, often referring to a bent or curved landscape feature or a bend in a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Bowye." This document contains the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The BOWIE surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland and England, such as Bowiehill in Berwickshire, Scotland, and Bowie in Northumberland, England. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, the BOWIE family held lands in Ayrshire, Scotland, and played a significant role in the region's history. One notable member of the family was John BOWIE, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.

Another prominent figure with the BOWIE surname was Sir John BOWIE, a Scottish knight who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in the late 16th century. He was instrumental in strengthening the city's defenses during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

The BOWIE name also has a connection to the American Revolutionary War. Walter BOWIE (1742-1810), a Scottish-American planter from Maryland, served as a captain in the Continental Army and fought in several battles against the British forces.

In the 19th century, James BOWIE (1796-1836) gained fame as the designer of the iconic Bowie knife, which was used extensively during the Texas Revolution and later became a symbol of the American frontier. He was also a renowned fighter and was involved in several duels and skirmishes.

Another notable figure with the BOWIE surname was William BOWIE (1872-1940), a British writer and explorer who traveled extensively in Central Asia and wrote several books about his adventures, including "The Unexpected Life of a Victorian Explorer."

While the BOWIE surname has its roots in Scotland and England, it has since spread worldwide, with families carrying this name residing in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowie

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

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

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

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