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

Sowers, 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 Sowers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowers in America

Sowers is the 3504th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowers surname appeared 10,198 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Sowers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sowers 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 Sowers

The surname Sowers is of English origin and emerged in the late medieval period, derived from the occupational name for a sower, someone who scattered or planted seeds. Its root lies in the Old English word 'sawan' meaning 'to sow'.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was John le Souwere, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. The name also appeared in various spellings such as Sower, Sowar, and Sowere in historical records across the country.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a now-lost settlement called 'Saweres' is mentioned, potentially indicating an early association between the surname and a specific location. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1198 refer to a William le Souwere, suggesting the surname's presence in that region by the late 12th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Sowers include William Sowers (1774-1838), an American farmer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Another prominent bearer was Amos Sowers (1828-1909), a Union Army veteran who fought in the American Civil War and later became a prosperous businessman in Pennsylvania.

In the realm of literature, the name appears in the works of English author Thomas Hardy, who featured characters with the surname Sowers in his novels 'The Woodlanders' (1887) and 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' (1891).

Other historical figures include John Sowers (1753-1831), a Mennonite minister and farmer from Pennsylvania, and Samuel Sowers (1796-1880), a prominent abolitionist and minister from the same state.

While the surname Sowers is not among the most prevalent in modern times, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the occupational roots of many English surnames. Its bearers have left their mark across various fields, from politics and military service to literature and ministry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowers

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

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

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

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