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

Owers, 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 Owers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owers in America

Owers is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owers surname appeared 189 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 Owers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Owers 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 Owers

The surname Owers originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "owre," meaning "bank" or "shore," suggesting a connection to someone who lived near a riverbank or coastal area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a person named Richard de la Ouwere is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Ower, Owre, and Oweres, as seen in historical documents and parish records. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and spelling inconsistencies common during that era.

Notably, the Owers surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Owers, a prominent English merchant who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1580-1644). Records indicate that he was involved in the lucrative wool trade and held influential positions in the city of Bristol.

Another individual of note was Robert Owers, a renowned English architect who lived during the 18th century (c. 1720-1786). He is best known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church and the Palladian-style Foundling Hospital.

In the realm of literature, the name Owers is tied to the English poet and playwright John Owers (1576-1622). While his works are not widely known today, he was a contemporary of celebrated writers like Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.

Moving into the 19th century, the name gained more prominence with individuals such as William Owers (1801-1868), a renowned English engraver and illustrator who contributed to various publications and books of his time.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Arthur Owers (1892-1972) made a significant impact as a British engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing the Owers Rotary Engine, a unique design that aimed to improve efficiency and performance in internal combustion engines.

While the Owers surname may not be among the most common in England, its rich history and association with notable figures across various fields showcase its enduring presence and significance within the country's cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owers

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

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

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

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