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

Dow, 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 Dow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dow in America

Dow is the 2356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dow surname appeared 15,472 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Dow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dow 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 Dow

The surname DOW has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "dun," which means a hill or a mound. This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived near or on a hill or elevated area.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners and properties in England, there are several references to places with names that could be the source of the surname DOW. For example, the village of Dowsby in Lincolnshire and the town of Dowton in Wiltshire are both mentioned, indicating the possible origins of the name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname DOW was John Dow, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273. Another early reference is to William de Dowe, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname DOW. One such person was Gerard Dow (1613-1675), a renowned Dutch Golden Age painter known for his meticulous attention to detail and his mastery of depicting light and textures.

Another notable figure was Neal Dow (1804-1897), an American prohibitionist and politician from Maine. He campaigned tirelessly for the passage of laws prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol, and his efforts led to the adoption of the Maine Law in 1851, one of the earliest pieces of temperance legislation in the United States.

In Scotland, the surname DOW has been associated with the Clan Forbes, as it was a common sept (branch) name of the clan. One notable bearer of the name was John Dow (1586-1637), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen.

Across the Atlantic, in the early days of the American colonies, the surname DOW can be found in records from the 17th century. One such individual was Henry Dow (1636-1707), an early settler in Hampton, New Hampshire, who served as a town selectman and was involved in local governance.

Finally, in the realm of sports, one cannot overlook the legacy of Courtney Dow (1971-), a Canadian Olympic athlete who competed in rowing. She won a gold medal in the women's double sculls event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals throughout history who have borne the surname DOW, a name with deep roots and a rich heritage spanning multiple countries and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dow

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

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

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

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