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

Sowels, 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 Sowels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowels in America

Sowels is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowels surname appeared 223 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 Sowels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sowels 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 Sowels

The surname "SOWELS" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "soel," which means "muddy" or "dirty." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a marshy or swampy area, or perhaps someone who worked with soil or mud.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents such as tax records and parish registers. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "William Sowels" as a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire.

During the 14th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, there is a record of a "John Sowels" residing in the village of Tickhill, Yorkshire.

The spelling of the name has evolved over time, with variations such as "Sowles," "Sowell," and "Soal" appearing in historical records. These variations may have arisen due to regional dialects or the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that era.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Sowels, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in the Chronicles of Froissart, a famous historical work by the French chronicler Jean Froissart.

Another historical figure with the surname was William Sowels, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He is recorded as having been a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, one of the oldest livery companies in the city.

In the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Britain, including Scotland and Wales. One notable Scottish bearer was Robert Sowels, a clergyman and scholar who lived in the late 16th century and served as the rector of the University of St. Andrews.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname in the United States dates back to the 17th century, with a record of a Richard Sowels who arrived in Virginia in 1635 as an indentured servant.

Throughout the centuries, the Sowels surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farming, trade, and military service. While not a particularly common name, it has persisted over time and can be found in various parts of the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowels

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

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

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

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