Prowell last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Prowell

A surname deriving from an English locational name referring to someone from Prowell.

Prowell, 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 Prowell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prowell in America

Prowell is the 20529th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prowell surname appeared 1,292 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 Prowell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prowell 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank20529195754.76%
Count1,2921,2751.32%
Proportion per 100k0.440.47-6.59%

The history of the last name Prowell

The surname PROWELL is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly a combination of the Old English words "prowe" meaning "proud" or "brave," and "well," referring to a water source or spring.

One of the earliest documented instances of the PROWELL surname can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a certain John PROWELL was recorded as having been married in 1587. Records from this period often show variations in spelling, such as PROWALL, PROWILL, and PROULL.

The PROWELL name appears to have been particularly concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire during the 16th and 17th centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. John PROWELL (1560-1631), a merchant and alderman of York, is mentioned in historical records as having played a significant role in the city's affairs during the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Thomas PROWELL (1628-1689), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Callington in Cornwall. He was known for his published works, including a treatise on the Holy Communion and a collection of sermons.

In the 18th century, the PROWELL name spread to other parts of England, with records showing families residing in areas such as Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. One notable individual from this period was William PROWELL (1701-1767), a renowned clockmaker from Bristol who was celebrated for his intricate and highly accurate timepieces.

The 19th century saw the PROWELL name cross the Atlantic, with several families immigrating to North America. One such individual was James PROWELL (1811-1888), a farmer and landowner from Pennsylvania who became known for his contributions to the local community and his advocacy for agricultural reform.

Another notable figure was Robert PROWELL (1856-1924), an American lawyer and politician from New Jersey who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1901 to 1905.

Throughout its history, the PROWELL surname has been associated with various professions, including merchants, clergymen, artisans, and public servants, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prowell

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

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 Prowell was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only55.11%712
Non-Hispanic Black Only39.63%512
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races1.39%18
Hispanic Origin2.79%36

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 Prowell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White55.11%53.25%3.43%
Black39.63%41.02%-3.45%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%0.39%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%1.73%(S)%
Two or More Races1.39%1.65%-17.11%
Hispanic2.79%1.96%34.95%

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

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

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