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

Lowe, 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 Lowe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lowe in America

Lowe is the 334th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lowe surname appeared 92,260 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 31 people would have the surname Lowe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lowe 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 Lowe

The surname Lowe originated in England, with its earliest recorded roots dating back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "hlaw," which means a small hill or mound. It was initially used as a topographic name, referring to people who lived near or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Lowe." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Lowe family was well-established in various regions of England, particularly in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Lowe," "Low," or "Lough," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Lowe was Sir Robert Lowe (1611-1679), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. Another prominent individual was John Lowe (1629-1685), an English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

As the name spread across England, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Lowe Hill in Staffordshire likely derived its name from the Lowe family who once resided there.

In the 18th century, the Lowe family produced several influential figures, including Hudson Lowe (1769-1844), a British Army officer best known for his role as the governor of St. Helena during the imprisonment of Napoleon Bonaparte. Additionally, Robert Lowe (1811-1892), a British statesman and writer, served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary in the 19th century.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Lowe Hudson Lowe (1794-1876), a British naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration of the Arctic regions.

Throughout its history, the surname Lowe has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, authors, politicians, and military figures, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lowe

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

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

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

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