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

Sowah, 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 Sowah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowah in America

Sowah is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowah surname appeared 255 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 Sowah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sowah 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 Sowah

The surname "SOWAH" is believed to have originated in Ghana, West Africa, during the late 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the Akan word "soa," which means "to sacrifice" or "to offer." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who held a significant role in religious or cultural ceremonies involving sacrificial offerings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SOWAH" can be found in a Dutch East India Company document from 1692, which mentions a local chief named Kwame Sowah who resided in the coastal region of modern-day Ghana. This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling of the name.

In the 18th century, the name "SOWAH" appeared in several British colonial records, indicating that it was relatively well-established among the Akan people of Ghana during that time period. Some notable individuals who bore this surname include Kofi Sowah (1745-1810), a respected elder and advisor to the Asante Kingdom, and Akua Sowah (1770-1845), a renowned herbalist and traditional healer.

As the transatlantic slave trade intensified in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, some individuals with the surname "SOWAH" were forcibly transported from Ghana to the Americas. This led to the establishment of small communities of Sowah families in various parts of the Caribbean and the United States.

One prominent figure from this era was Kwasi Sowah (1795-1872), a former slave who gained his freedom and became a successful merchant in Charleston, South Carolina. Another notable individual was Abena Sowah (1820-1890), a midwife and community leader in Jamaica, who played a crucial role in preserving traditional Akan childbirth practices.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname "SOWAH" made significant contributions to the development of modern Ghana. Among them were Nana Sowah (1865-1935), a respected chief and advocate for education, and Ama Sowah (1880-1960), a pioneering businesswoman and philanthropist.

While the surname "SOWAH" remains relatively uncommon outside of Ghana, it continues to be an integral part of the cultural heritage and history of the Akan people. The name serves as a reminder of the rich traditions and resilience of this West African community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowah

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

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

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

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