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

Sowe, 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 Sowe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowe in America

Sowe is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowe surname appeared 245 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 Sowe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sowe 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 Sowe

The surname SOWE has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sow," meaning a female pig or a ridge of land. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a ridge or who worked with pigs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Sowe is mentioned in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, with a John Sowe listed.

In the 14th century, the name SOWE was found in various records across England. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 mention a William Sowe in Worcestershire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 list a John Sowe in Yorkshire.

The SOWE surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Sowe in Warwickshire and Sowerby in Yorkshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Sow, Sowe, and Sowerby.

One notable individual with the SOWE surname was Sir Henry Sowe, a Member of Parliament for Bristol in the early 15th century. He was born around 1380 and served in the Parliament of 1415.

Another significant figure was John Sowe, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Coventry, who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his charitable work and founded a hospital in Coventry.

In the 16th century, the name SOWE appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1524, where a Thomas Sowe is listed in Gloucestershire. The Muster Rolls of 1539 also mention a William Sowe in Nottinghamshire.

One of the most notable individuals with the SOWE surname was Sir Thomas Sowe, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived from 1532 to 1610. He served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1592 to 1610.

In the 17th century, the name SOWE continued to be found in various records across England. The Parish Registers of Oxfordshire from 1601 list a Robert Sowe, while the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674 mention a William Sowe in Warwickshire.

Overall, the surname SOWE has a rich history in England, with its origins dating back to the 13th century. It has been associated with various place names, occupations, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowe

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

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

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

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