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

Nowden, 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 Nowden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nowden in America

Nowden is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nowden surname appeared 363 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 Nowden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nowden 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 Nowden

The surname Nowden is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have emerged in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it was likely derived from a local place name or a topographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a certain Robert de Nowden was listed as a landowner. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a specific location or estate bearing a similar name.

Some experts suggest that the name Nowden could be derived from the Old English words "nowan" and "denu," which together mean "new valley" or "new glen." This theory lends credence to the idea that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for a settlement or dwelling located in a newly established valley or glen.

In the 14th century, records show that a John Nowden was a prominent figure in the town of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where he served as a merchant and landowner. His descendants likely continued to use the surname, contributing to its spread and establishment in the region.

During the 16th century, the Nowden family gained prominence in the city of York, where Nicholas Nowden (c. 1525 - 1592) became a respected merchant and served as a alderman. His son, Richard Nowden (1560 - 1635), followed in his footsteps and held various civic positions in York.

Another notable figure bearing the Nowden surname was William Nowden (1683 - 1754), a renowned theologian and scholar who authored several influential works on religious philosophy. He was born in Lancashire and spent much of his life teaching at Oxford University.

In the 18th century, the Nowden family expanded its reach beyond the northern counties, with branches establishing themselves in other parts of England. One such example is Henry Nowden (1712 - 1787), a successful businessman and landowner who settled in Gloucestershire.

As the centuries passed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Nowdon, Noudun, and Newden appearing in various historical records. However, the core form of Nowden remained the predominant spelling, carrying the weight of its historical significance and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nowden

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

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

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

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