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

Sow, 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 Sow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sow in America

Sow is the 14920th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sow surname appeared 1,984 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 Sow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sow 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 Sow

The surname "Sow" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "sugu" meaning "pig" or "sow". The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked with pigs or raised them.

In medieval times, surnames were often derived from one's occupation, physical characteristics, or place of residence. The surname "Sow" would have referred to someone whose livelihood revolved around pigs or swine, either as a farmer, breeder, or possibly even a vendor of pork products.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Sow" can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a John Sowe in Cambridgeshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also mention a William Sowe.

During the 14th century, the surname appears in various records across different regions of England. The Hundred Rolls of 1379 record a John Sowe in Oxfordshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 list a Johannes Sowe.

In the 15th century, the surname is found in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the Paston family of Norfolk. One letter, dated 1472, mentions a "Sowe of Bokynham".

Notable individuals with the surname "Sow" throughout history include:

1. Christopher Sow (c. 1590 - c. 1650), an English soldier and explorer who served in the Virginia Company and was among the early settlers of Jamestown.

2. John Sow (1546 - 1618), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bingham, Nottinghamshire.

3. William Sow (1654 - 1718), a Scottish farmer and landowner from Ayrshire, known for his involvement in local politics and community affairs.

4. Elizabeth Sow (1675 - 1743), an English midwife and author of one of the earliest published works on midwifery, "The Compleat Midwife's Practice" (1737).

5. Thomas Sow (1801 - 1879), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa and was among the first Europeans to document the flora and fauna of the region.

While the surname "Sow" is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the agrarian roots and occupational heritage of its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sow

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

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

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

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