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

Gowers, 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 Gowers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gowers in America

Gowers is the 63524th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gowers surname appeared 314 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 Gowers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gowers 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 Gowers

The surname Gowers has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gouwere," meaning "goer" or "wanderer." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname given to someone who traveled frequently or was known for their wandering ways.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gowers surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Gowere" in this historical document, indicating its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, records show a Reginald Gouwere in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Additionally, there is a mention of a John Gowere in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, further establishing the prevalence of the name in various regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the Gowers surname was Sir John Gowers (1565-1638), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. He served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1609 and played a significant role in local governance and politics.

Another prominent figure was William Gowers (1845-1915), a renowned English neurologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of neurological disorders. He was knighted in 1900 for his medical achievements and is remembered for his work on diseases such as muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis.

In the literary realm, John Gower (c. 1330-1408) was an English poet and friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. He is considered one of the principal English medieval poets and is best known for his works "Confessio Amantis" and "Vox Clamantis."

The Gowers surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Gower Peninsula in Wales and Gower Street in London. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time, as people often adopted their surnames from the places they lived or originated from.

While the Gowers surname has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "gouwere," reflecting the wandering spirit or occupation of its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gowers

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

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

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

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