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

Gowder, 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 Gowder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gowder in America

Gowder is the 61585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gowder surname appeared 326 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 Gowder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gowder 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 Gowder

The surname Gowder is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Gowdre, which may have been located in Worcestershire or Herefordshire. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "gowde" and "hyrde," meaning "goat herder."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gowder can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Goudere." This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Goudre living in Oxfordshire. Around the same time, a Walter de Goudre was documented in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1284.

The surname Gowder has undergone various spelling changes over the centuries, including Goudre, Goudere, Gowdre, and Gowdrey. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preference of scribes who recorded the name.

One notable individual with the surname Gowder was John Gowder, an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the late 16th century. He was born around 1550 and played a role in the affairs of the county during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Gowder, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire in the early 17th century. He was born around 1585 and is known for his involvement in local affairs and his philanthropic endeavors.

In the 18th century, Samuel Gowder (1713-1788) was a notable clergyman and author from Warwickshire. He wrote several religious works and served as a rector in various parishes throughout his career.

During the 19th century, William Gowder (1821-1892) was a successful businessman and industrialist in Birmingham. He played a significant role in the development of the city's metal and engineering industries.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Gowder was Henry Gowder (1872-1938), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas, including churches, schools, and private residences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gowder

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

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

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

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