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

Bowlin, 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 Bowlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowlin in America

Bowlin is the 5055th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowlin surname appeared 6,938 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Bowlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowlin 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 Bowlin

The surname Bowlin originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "boga" meaning "to bend" and "lind" meaning "lime tree," suggesting a connection to archery or the crafting of bows from lime wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where a Richard Boglind is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the Middle Ages, the Bowlin name was concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. Records from this period indicate that some families bearing this surname held land and property in these regions.

In the 14th century, a Robert Bowlyn is mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1348. This document provides valuable insight into the lives of individuals bearing this name during that era.

The Bowlin surname also has a connection to place names. For instance, the village of Bowling in West Yorkshire may have contributed to the development of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the Bowlin surname include:

1. Sir John Bowlin (c. 1450-1518), a knight and landowner in Lancashire, England.
2. William Bowlin (1571-1642), a merchant and alderman in the city of York, England.
3. Elizabeth Bowlin (c. 1620-1690), one of the early settlers in the American colony of Virginia.
4. Thomas Bowlin (1675-1729), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century.
5. Samuel Bowlin (1792-1867), an American frontiersman and explorer known for his travels in the American West.

While the Bowlin surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, carried by generations of immigrants and settlers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowlin

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

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

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

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