Bowie
From the Scottish place name Buchan, referring to someone from that region, or a variant of the surname Bowie.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,710 Americans carry the last name Bowie. That puts it at #3,039 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.00 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 25,000 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bowie surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
14K
1 in 25,000
Census rank
#3,039
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,786 bearers of the surname Bowie in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.00 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3039th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 51.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.5%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bowie
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 51.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.5%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Bowie bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bowie surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American51.4%
- White41.5%
- Two or more races3.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bowie surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,036 | #3,039 | -0.1% |
| Count | 10,943 | 11,786 | 7.7% |
| Per 100K | 4.06 | 4.00 | -1.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bowie bearers went from 10,943 to 11,786 (+7.7% change). The surname moved down 3 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,036 to #3,039.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bowie
FAQ
Bowie surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bowie?
The surname Bowie holds position #3,039 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 13,710 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.00 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bowie surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowie, the largest self-reported group is Black at 51.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.5%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.