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

Owl, 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 Owl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owl in America

Owl is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owl surname appeared 161 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 Owl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Owl 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 Owl

The surname Owl is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ule" or "owle," which referred to the nocturnal bird of prey. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was associated with or resembled the traits of an owl.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Owl can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a person named Richard Oule is listed. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1212, with a reference to a William Owle.

In the 13th century, the surname Owl was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Berkshire. Variations in spelling also emerged, such as Oul, Oule, and Oulle.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Sir Robert Owle, a 14th-century knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He participated in several campaigns against the French and is mentioned in historical records from the period.

During the 16th century, the surname Owl was associated with several prominent individuals, including John Owl (c. 1545-1592), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex. Another notable figure was Thomas Owl (c. 1560-1625), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Barking in Essex.

In the 17th century, the surname Owl was found in various parts of England, including London, where a merchant named William Owl (c. 1620-1678) was recorded in the city's records. Another individual of note was Edward Owl (c. 1640-1705), a landowner and magistrate in Oxfordshire.

The 18th century saw the surname Owl spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals bearing the name in Scotland and Ireland. One notable figure from this period was Robert Owl (1720-1792), a Scottish poet and playwright who lived in Edinburgh.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Owl continued to be found in various regions of England, with families bearing the name residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Oxfordshire. Several notable individuals with the surname emerged in the 19th century, including William Owl (1810-1882), a renowned architect who designed notable buildings in London.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owl

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

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

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

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