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

Sowry, 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 Sowry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowry in America

Sowry is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowry surname appeared 135 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 Sowry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sowry 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 Sowry

The surname Sowry is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the regions of England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sowr," meaning sour or bitter, possibly referring to someone with a sour disposition or temperament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Souri" in the county of Norfolk. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, serves as a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England following the Norman Conquest.

As time progressed, variations in spelling emerged, including Soure, Sower, and Sowre, reflecting the evolving nature of the English language. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the interpretations of scribes and record keepers.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Sowry include John Sowry, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York during the 14th century. He played a significant role in the local trade guilds and held several civic positions within the city's administration.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Sowry, a military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and was later knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, Thomas Sowry, a scholar and clergyman, made his mark as the headmaster of St. Paul's School in London. He was renowned for his efforts in promoting education and fostering a love for learning among his students.

The name Sowry can also be traced to the village of Sowerby in Yorkshire, which derives its name from the Old English words "sowr" and "by," meaning a settlement or farmstead associated with a sour or bitter place.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Sowry, born in 1602, who gained recognition as a prominent Puritan writer and religious activist in the 17th century. Her works focused on religious devotion and the promotion of Puritan values during a tumultuous period in English history.

As the centuries passed, the Sowry surname dispersed across various regions of England and beyond, with some members of the family emigrating to other parts of the British Empire and eventually to the United States and other countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowry

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!