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

Sowter, 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 Sowter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sowter in America

Sowter is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sowter surname appeared 104 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 Sowter.

The history of the last name Sowter

The surname Sowter originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'soutere', which means a shoemaker or cobbler. This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as shoemakers or cobblers.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Sowter can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a person named John le Soutere was listed in Oxfordshire. The Hundredorum Rolls were administrative records created during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the surname Sowter appeared in various forms, such as Soutere, Souwter, and Soughter, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The name was particularly common in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire.

One notable individual with the surname Sowter was William Sowter, a member of the Parliament of England during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. Records indicate that he was born in Oxfordshire in the late 15th century.

Another person of historical significance was John Sowter, who lived in the 17th century and was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York. He was involved in various civic affairs and served as a sheriff of York in the 1660s.

In the 18th century, the surname Sowter was still relatively common in parts of England. Thomas Sowter, born in Buckinghamshire in 1712, was a renowned clockmaker and instrument maker. His craftsmanship and attention to detail earned him a reputation among the gentry and aristocracy of the time.

The surname Sowter can also be traced back to the village of Sowter's Green in Buckinghamshire, which likely derived its name from individuals bearing this surname who resided in the area.

Another significant figure with the surname Sowter was Robert Sowter, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He was born in Oxfordshire in 1785 and participated in several notable naval battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

While the surname Sowter is not as common today as it once was, it continues to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties where it originated. The name serves as a reminder of the importance of occupational surnames in medieval England and the rich history associated with this particular surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sowter

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

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 Sowter 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.

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

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

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