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

Gowen, 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 Gowen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gowen in America

Gowen is the 10114th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gowen surname appeared 3,186 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 Gowen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gowen 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 Gowen

The surname GOWEN has its origins in Wales, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh word "gwyn," which means fair or white, possibly referring to someone with light-colored hair or a pale complexion. The name may have also been derived from a place name, such as Gowen or Gowy, which were locations in Wales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GOWEN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the spelling may have varied slightly, such as Gowenn or Goueyn, this historical record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman period.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Howel GOWEN was recorded as a landowner in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales. His name appeared in various legal documents and charters from that era, indicating the name's prominence in the region.

During the 16th century, a Welsh poet and chronicler named Wiliam GOWEN (c. 1520 - c. 1580) gained recognition for his works, which documented historical events and preserved Welsh literary traditions. His writings provide valuable insights into the cultural and linguistic landscape of Wales during the Tudor period.

Another prominent individual bearing the GOWEN surname was Sir William GOWEN (1575 - 1638), a Welsh politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of King James I. He played a significant role in the governance of Wales and represented the borough of Haverfordwest in the House of Commons.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Thomas GOWEN (1718 - 1794) emerged as a Welsh Presbyterian minister and author. He wrote extensively on religious topics and his works were widely circulated among the Welsh diaspora, contributing to the preservation of Welsh culture and traditions.

As the GOWEN surname spread from its Welsh roots, it also found its way to other parts of the world, including the British colonies in North America. Records show that individuals with the surname GOWEN were present in various regions, such as Pennsylvania and Virginia, as early as the 17th and 18th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gowen

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

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

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

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