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

Cowins, 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 Cowins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cowins in America

Cowins is the 69579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cowins surname appeared 282 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 Cowins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cowins 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 Cowins

The surname Cowins has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cu" and "winn," which together meant "cow pasture" or "cow meadow." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely associated with cattle farming or lived in areas known for grazing lands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a person named Richard Cowun is mentioned. The spelling "Cowun" is thought to be an earlier variant of the surname.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1327, which listed a Thomas Cowyne. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the surname Cowins gained prominence with the birth of John Cowins (1538-1619), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Winchester. His notable works include a translation of the Bible into English, published in 1609.

Another prominent figure bearing the Cowins surname was Sir William Cowins (1612-1680), an English politician and landowner from Gloucestershire. He served as a member of parliament and played a significant role in local affairs during the 17th century.

The Cowins name can also be found in historical records from other parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. In the 18th century, a notable figure was Robert Cowins (1720-1796), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Leeds, who contributed significantly to the development of the city's infrastructure and charitable institutions.

Variations in the spelling of the surname continued to emerge, with records showing forms such as Cowyns, Cowens, and Cowans. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences.

In the 19th century, the Cowins surname gained recognition through individuals like Sarah Cowins (1836-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States. She founded one of the first teacher training colleges for women in Massachusetts.

Throughout its history, the Cowins surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, merchants, and educators. While the name may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the pastoral landscapes of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cowins

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

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

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

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