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

Cowart, 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 Cowart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cowart in America

Cowart is the 3095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cowart surname appeared 11,621 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Cowart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cowart 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 Cowart

The surname Cowart is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "cu" meaning "cow" and "ærð" meaning "earth" or "land." This combination suggests that the name may have initially referred to an area of land used for grazing cows or a location where cows were raised.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cowart can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Cuarth" and "Cuuert," indicating its evolution over time.

During the 13th century, the name Cowart is documented in several historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire and the Hundredorum Rolls of Bedfordshire. These records often mention individuals with the surname in connection with land ownership and taxation.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Cowart was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1348, where he was granted a license to travel abroad for purposes of trade or study. This entry provides insight into the social status and mobility of individuals bearing this surname during that era.

By the 16th century, the name had spread across various regions of England, with records showing individuals named Cowart residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One notable figure from this period was William Cowart (1535-1612), a merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol.

In the 17th century, the Cowart surname gained further prominence with the birth of Sir John Cowart (1637-1712), a renowned military officer who served under King William III during the Nine Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

As the British Empire expanded, the Cowart name traveled to various parts of the world, including North America and the Caribbean. In the 18th century, records show individuals named Cowart settling in the American colonies, particularly in the states of Virginia and South Carolina.

Another notable figure was Thomas Cowart (1756-1834), a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a successful farmer and landowner in Georgia. His descendants continued to carry the Cowart surname throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cowart

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

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

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

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