Explore the Family Name Bowes
The meaning of Bowes
1. English (northern): habitational name from Bowes (formerly in North Yorkshire, now in County Durham), or from some other place so called, the placename being derived from the plural of Old English boga ‘bow’, here referring to bends in a river. Alternatively, a topographic name for someone who lived ‘(at the) arches or bridge’. See Bow 1. 2. English: variant of Bow, with excrescent -s. 3. Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Buadhaigh (see Bogue).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bowes in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bowes has seen a slight decrease in rank between 2000 and 2010, slipping from 6460 to 6791, a change of -5.12%. Despite this drop in rank, the count or number of individuals bearing the surname saw a modest increase of 2.48%, with totals rising from 4847 in 2000 to 4967 in 2010. The proportion of individuals with the surname Bowes per 100k people also decreased slightly by -6.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,460 | #6,791 | -5.12% |
| Count | 4,847 | 4,967 | 2.48% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.8 | 1.68 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bowes
When examining the ethnicity linked to the surname Bowes as per data from the Decennial U.S. Census, there were some shifts observed between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 25.00%, while individuals identifying with two or more races increased by 20.92%. The largest growth was seen in the Hispanic population, which climbed by 44.85%. There was a small increase (12.03%) in the percentage of individuals identifying as Black. Conversely, the percentage of those identifying as White experienced a minor decrease of -1.52%, and those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a significant decline of -62.07%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.53% | 89.15% | -1.52% |
| Black | 5.32% | 5.96% | 12.03% |
| Hispanic | 1.36% | 1.97% | 44.85% |
| Two or More Races | 1.53% | 1.85% | 20.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.68% | 0.85% | 25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.58% | 0.22% | -62.07% |
Bowes ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Bowes is British & Irish, which comprises 59.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.3%) and Eastern European (5.2%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Nigerian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 59.4% |
| French & German | 21.3% |
| Eastern European | 5.2% |
| Other | 14.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Bowes
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Bowes have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 91.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 91.00% |
What Bowes haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Bowes is R-L21, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L21 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and I-Y4751, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Connors, Carroll, Welch, Walsh, Evans, Morgan, Lewis, Milne, Curry, Jones.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Bowes surname are: H1, H, T2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Bowes have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Bowes" Surname 41.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Bowes" Surname 31.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Bowes" Surname 18.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Bowes" Surname 58.8%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Bowes?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Bowes are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition