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

Towner, 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 Towner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Towner in America

Towner is the 8626th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Towner surname appeared 3,813 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Towner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Towner 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 Towner

The surname Towner is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "tun," meaning an enclosure or a farm, and the suffix "er," indicating a person who performs a particular occupation. Thus, a Towner was an individual who lived and worked on a farm or an enclosed settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Towner can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records and manuscripts. One notable reference is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Richard le Tounur is mentioned in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name from its Old English origins.

During the 14th century, the name Towner appeared in various places across England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Some notable examples include John le Tounour, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk in 1327, and William Tounour, mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1380.

Over time, the name Towner also became associated with specific place names, such as Townerton in Norfolk and Townerhill in Herefordshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English words "tun" and "er," reflecting the occupational nature of the surname.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Towner throughout history. One such person was William Towner (1588-1653), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bocking, Essex. Another prominent figure was John Towner (1720-1804), an English dissenting minister and tutor who was known for his work in education and religious studies.

In the 19th century, John Grey Towner (1808-1886) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Institute of British Architects. Additionally, Elihu Pahmeyer Towner (1833-1907) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Towner was Harry Towner (1892-1965), an English composer and conductor who is best known for his work in film scores and popular music. His compositions were featured in numerous films and stage productions throughout the early to mid-20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Towner

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

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

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

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