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

Bowmer, 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 Bowmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bowmer in America

Bowmer is the 50196th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bowmer surname appeared 417 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 Bowmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bowmer 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 Bowmer

The surname Bowmer is of English origin, rooted in the north of England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bolle" and "mere," meaning "bowl" and "lake" or "pool," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who lived near a body of water resembling a bowl shape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bowmer can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "Bolmere." This variation in spelling highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

In the 13th century, the name Bowmer appeared in various records across northern counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire. For example, a Robert de Bolmere was documented in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. The prefix "de" indicates a connection to a specific place, further reinforcing the name's geographical origins.

The Bowmer surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as Bolemir in Lancashire and Bowmer Hill in Yorkshire. These locations may have served as residences or properties belonging to individuals bearing the name, contributing to its establishment and dissemination.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the Bowmer surname. One such individual was John Bowmer (c. 1514 - 1583), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Rochester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was William Bowmer (1597 - 1650), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, James Bowmer (1718 - 1789) was a prominent English landowner and magistrate in Staffordshire. He played a role in the development of the pottery industry in the region. Additionally, Thomas Bowmer (1765 - 1838) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, known for his contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

Lastly, John Bowmer (1856 - 1938) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum's iconic façade.

While these examples illustrate the historical presence of the Bowmer surname across various regions and professions, it is important to note that the name's origins can be traced back to the northern counties of England, where it likely emerged as a descriptive identifier based on geographical features.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bowmer

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

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

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

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