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

Cowger, 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 Cowger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cowger in America

Cowger is the 14724th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cowger surname appeared 2,018 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cowger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cowger 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 Cowger

The surname Cowger has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cuwere," which referred to a cowherd or someone who tended cows. This occupation-based surname was likely adopted by individuals or families whose primary livelihood involved caring for cattle.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Cowger name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1279. This document lists a John le Cuwere, which translates to John the Cowherd, providing evidence of the name's use during that time.

In the 14th century, records show variations of the name, such as Cowger and Couger, appearing in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in spelling during that era.

The Cowger surname is also linked to certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Cowgill in Yorkshire may have derived its name from a similar Old English word, suggesting a connection between the surname and the geographic location.

One notable individual bearing the Cowger surname was John Cowger, born in 1624 in Lincolnshire, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, and his descendants later immigrated to the American colonies in the late 17th century, helping to establish the name in the New World.

Another historical figure with the Cowger name was William Cowger, born in 1742 in Yorkshire, England. He served as a soldier in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and was captured by Continental forces at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

In the 19th century, Mary Cowger, born in 1832 in Nottinghamshire, England, gained recognition as a philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for women's rights.

The Cowger surname also has roots in Scotland, with records showing variations like Cougar and Cowgar appearing in historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Cowgar, born in 1687 in Ayrshire, who served as a minister in the Church of Scotland.

In the United States, the Cowger surname has been present since the colonial era, with many descendants of the early English and Scottish immigrants settling in various regions, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cowger

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

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

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

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