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

Ownby, 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 Ownby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ownby in America

Ownby is the 14681st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ownby surname appeared 2,026 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ownby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ownby 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 Ownby

The surname Ownby has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from a place name, possibly from the village of Owenby in Lincolnshire. It may have originated as a locational surname, given to someone who hailed from that particular area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Owenby, Lincolnshire, where a John Ownby was christened in 1592. This provides evidence that the name was already in use during the Elizabethan era.

Another early reference to the name Ownby appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379, where a William Ownby is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name may have had variations in spelling or pronunciation in different regions of England during the Middle Ages.

Interestingly, the name Ownby bears a resemblance to the Old English word "ownian," which means "to own" or "to possess." This linguistic connection could indicate that the surname may have originally described someone who owned land or property in a particular area.

As the centuries passed, the Ownby family spread across various parts of England. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Robert Ownby (1755-1832), a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
2. Elizabeth Ownby (1820-1892), a pioneer woman who migrated to the United States and settled in Tennessee.
3. William Ownby (1867-1947), an English author and poet known for his works on rural life.
4. John Ownby (1901-1978), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London during the mid-20th century.
5. Margaret Ownby (1925-2012), an American educator and advocate for children's literacy programs.

While the surname Ownby may have originated from a specific place in England, it has since been carried by individuals across various countries and continents, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its history and legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ownby

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

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

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

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