Find out how popular the last name Bownes is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bownes.
A locational surname derived from places named Bowness in Cumberland and Westmorland.
Bownes, 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 Bownes surname is from the 2010 census data.
Bownes is the 60960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Bownes surname appeared 330 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 Bownes.
We can also compare 2010 data for Bownes 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 60960 | 56826 | 7.02% |
| Count | 330 | 336 | -1.80% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.12 | -8.70% |
The surname Bownes has its origins in the medieval county of Cheshire, England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "boune" or "boun," meaning "ready" or "prepared," and may have originally referred to someone who was well-equipped or prepared for a particular task or journey.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Cheshire Pipe Rolls of 1260, where a person named Ranulphus de Bounes is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use in the region during that time period.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Bounes, Bownes, and Bowyns, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and recordkeeping during that era. The Bownes family is believed to have been prominent landowners in the areas around Nantwich and Audlem in Cheshire.
A notable early bearer of the name was John Bownes, born around 1420 in Nantwich, Cheshire. He was a prosperous merchant and served as the town's mayor in the late 15th century.
Another historically significant figure was Richard Bownes, born in 1588 in Audlem, Cheshire. He was a soldier who fought in the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles I for his service.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various records and documents related to the Cheshire area, including the Cheshire Wills and Inventories and the Cheshire Parish Registers.
A prominent member of the Bownes family was Thomas Bownes, born in 1678 in Nantwich. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who donated funds for the construction of several churches and schools in the region.
Another noteworthy individual was William Bownes, born in 1710 in Audlem. He was a renowned scholar and author who wrote several treatises on philosophy and theology.
Throughout the centuries, the Bownes surname has been associated with various places in Cheshire, such as Bownes Hall, Bownes Farm, and Bownes Green, reflecting the family's longstanding presence and influence in the region.
While the Bownes name has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration, its roots can be traced back to the medieval county of Cheshire, where it has a rich and well-documented history spanning several centuries.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bownes.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bownes was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 43.33% | 143 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 52.73% | 174 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 3.03% | 10 |
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 Bownes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 43.33% | 43.15% | 0.42% |
| Black | 52.73% | 54.46% | -3.23% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 3.03% | 2.08% | 37.18% |
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 Bownes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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