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

Nowlan, 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 Nowlan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nowlan in America

Nowlan is the 24914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nowlan surname appeared 998 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 Nowlan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nowlan 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 Nowlan

The surname Nowlan originated in Ireland, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "nuall," meaning "roar" or "loud sound." This connection suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a booming voice or a notable talent for storytelling or oration.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a prominent individual named Tadhg O'Nowlan, who lived in the 14th century and was a member of the bardic class, known for their skills in poetry and storytelling.

In the 16th century, the surname Nowlan was particularly prevalent in County Laois, located in the Irish Midlands. Historical records from this time period indicate that the Nowlans were a prominent family in the region, with several members holding positions of influence within the local community.

The name Nowlan has also been subject to various spelling variations throughout history, including Nowlan, Nolan, Noland, and Nowland. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, linguistic shifts, and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices of the time.

One notable figure bearing the Nowlan surname was John Nowlan (1819-1890), an Irish-born Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1868 to 1873 and played a significant role in the early political landscape of Canada.

Another prominent individual was Alden Nowlan (1933-1983), a renowned Canadian poet and novelist from Nova Scotia. His works, which often explored themes of rural life and the human condition, earned him widespread acclaim and numerous literary accolades, including the Governor General's Award for Poetry in 1967.

In the realm of sports, Christopher Nowlan (born 1981) is a former professional rugby union player who represented Ireland at the international level. He played as a prop and was part of the Irish squad that competed in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The name Nowlan has also been associated with several place names throughout Ireland. For instance, Nowlan Park in Kilkenny is a renowned hurling stadium named after James Nowlan, a prominent local figure who played a significant role in the development of the sport in the region.

Lastly, Kevin Nowlan (born 1958) is an American comic book artist and writer known for his work on various iconic characters, including Batman, Superman, and the X-Men. His contributions to the comic book industry have garnered him critical acclaim and a devoted following among fans.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nowlan

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

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

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

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