Bowman
An occupational surname referring to an archer or a maker of bows.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122,021 Americans carry the last name Bowman. That puts it at #296 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 35.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bowman 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
122K
1 in 2,809
Census rank
#296
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
35.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105,007 bearers of the surname Bowman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 35.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 296th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowman, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bowman
The surname Bowman is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "boga" meaning "bow" and "mann" meaning "man." This suggests that the name originally referred to an archer or someone skilled in archery.
In the Middle Ages, archery was highly valued, and bowmen played a crucial role in military campaigns and hunting. The earliest recorded instances of the name Bowman can be found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Bowman was Robert le Bogheman, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230. The name also appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Bogeman" in Derbyshire.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name Bowman was particularly prevalent in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, where archery was a popular activity. Some notable Bowmans from this period include Sir William Bowman (c. 1380-1457), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses.
In the 16th century, the name Bowman continued to be associated with archery. Sir Martin Bowman (1524-1597) was an English gentleman archer and a member of the Honourable Artillery Company. He is known for his role in the defense of London during the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The 17th century saw the emergence of several distinguished individuals bearing the surname Bowman. One of them was Sir William Bowman (1589-1663), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire. Another notable figure was Thomas Bowman (1617-1704), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
In the 18th century, the name Bowman was widespread across various parts of England and Scotland. Walter Bowman (1699-1782) was a Scottish philosopher and historian who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Scotland.
The 19th century brought forth several notable Bowmans, including Sir Joseph Bowman (1828-1904), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of railways and bridges. Another prominent figure was Sir William Bowman (1816-1892), an English surgeon and ophthalmologist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of eye anatomy and diseases.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bowman
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowman, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bowman 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 Bowman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.8%
- Black or African American13.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bowman 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 | #268 | #296 | -10.4% |
| Count | 102,239 | 105,007 | 2.7% |
| Per 100K | 37.90 | 35.60 | -6.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bowman bearers went from 102,239 to 105,007 (+2.7% change). The surname moved down 28 positions in the national ranking, going from #268 to #296.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bowman
FAQ
Bowman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bowman?
The surname Bowman holds position #296 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 122,021 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 35.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bowman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bowman, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.6%) and Hispanic (2.2%). 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.