Explore the Family Name Sowden
The meaning of Sowden
1. English: habitational name from South Dean in Stanbury (Yorkshire) or Southdean (Roxburghshire), both from Old English sūth ‘south, southern’ + denu ‘valley’. 2. English: habitational name from one or more farmsteads in Devon named with Middle English bi southe doun ‘(place) to the south of the hill’, including Sowden in Barnstaple, Lympstone, and Hartland, and Southdown in Brixham, Malborough, Burlescombe, and Sandford. 3. English: habitational name from Southdown (Barn) in Hawling (Gloucestershire), which may derive from Old English sūth ‘south, southern’ + dūn ‘hill’. 4. English (of Norman origin): nickname from Middle English, Old French soldan, souda(i)n, a borrowing of Arabic sulṭān ‘ruler’, specifically the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. It may have named someone who behaved in an outlandish and autocratic manner, or someone who had played the part of a sultan in a pageant.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sowden in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Sowden' saw a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 28,751st most popular surname, but by 2010, it had dropped slightly to the 29,403rd position. This represents a change of -2.27%. However, the total count of people with the Sowden surname increased from 779 in 2000 to 804 in 2010, a growth of 3.21%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by -6.9% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,751 | #29,403 | -2.27% |
| Count | 779 | 804 | 3.21% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.27 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sowden
The ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the Sowden surname between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased significantly from 0.77% to 1.49%, showing a change of 93.51%. Notably, there was a new entry of people identifying as two or more races in 2010 which was absent in the 2000 data. The percentage of individuals identifying as White showed a minor decrease from 95.89% to 94.53%. The Hispanic representation also increased marginally from 1.03% to 1.24%. However, the percentage of individuals identifying as Black went down to zero in 2010 from 1.54% in 2000. There were no individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.89% | 94.53% | -1.42% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.87% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.77% | 1.49% | 93.51% |
| Hispanic | 1.03% | 1.24% | 20.39% |
| Black | 1.54% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |