Explore the Family Name Bowley
The meaning of Bowley
English: habitational name from any of several places called Bowley such as Bowley in Cadbury (Devon), a lost place called Bowley in Hailsham (Sussex), or Bowley in Blakemere (Herefordshire). The first is from Old English boga ‘bow, river bend’ + lēah. The second is from the Old English personal name Buga + + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The third is named with Old English bula ‘bull’, perhaps a byname (see Bull) + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bowley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bowley has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 14,792 in terms of commonality, whereas in 2010, its rank dropped to 15,692, signifying a -6.08% change. The count of individuals with this surname, however, increased slightly from 1,841 to 1,859 during the same period, indicating a growth rate of 0.98%. The proportion of people named Bowley per 100,000 also experienced a decline from 0.68 to 0.63, marking a -7.35% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,792 | #15,692 | -6.08% |
| Count | 1,841 | 1,859 | 0.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.68 | 0.63 | -7.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bowley
The ethnicity or ethnic identity associated with the surname Bowley saw shifts across different categories between 2000 and 2010, according to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of Bowleys identifying as White decreased by -3.34% from 88.54% to 85.58%, while those identifying as Hispanic increased by 74.06% from 2.66% to 4.63%. There was a 15.17% increase in those identifying as Black, moving from 4.02% to 4.63%. Individuals identifying as having two or more ethnic identities also rose by 33.64%, from 2.17% to 2.90%. Meanwhile, the percentage of Bowleys identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by -16.50%. The proportion of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained stable at 0.54%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.54% | 85.58% | -3.34% |
| Hispanic | 2.66% | 4.63% | 74.06% |
| Black | 4.02% | 4.63% | 15.17% |
| Two or More Races | 2.17% | 2.9% | 33.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.06% | 1.72% | -16.5% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0% |