The Bower surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 21,445 people carried this name — #1,682 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,800 people counted. That is down 1% from 21,705 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Bower surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of the bower’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Richard atte Bowre, 1306 — Writs of Parliament.

His entry covers Bower and Bowers.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 123 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 66 people named Bower live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in La Pampa.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

La Pampa 48
Buenos Aires Province 18

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 31 people named Bower.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Ille-et-Vilaine.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Ille-et-Vilaine 8
Nord 7
Pas-de-Calais 2
Allier 1
Paris 1
Seine-Maritime 1
Yvelines 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

21 people named Bower is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Bower was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Derbyshire: 34 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 294. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Derbyshire 34
Cheshire 14
Nottinghamshire 12

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Bower in American newspapers,
1835–1910.

Newspaper page from Morning Star carrying the name Bower
Morning Star 1835-11-25
Newspaper page from The Southern Herald carrying the name Bower
The Southern Herald 1910-11-25
Newspaper page from The Donaldsonville Chief carrying the name Bower
The Donaldsonville Chief 1910-12-17

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 673,313 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Bower in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

52,953 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bower. The most, 8,090, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 2.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 18,472
New South Wales 18,251
Victoria 6,385
Tasmania 3,605
Queensland 3,402
Western Australia 2,614
ACT (Canberra) 142
Northern Territory 23

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bower.

Who carried it

People named Bower,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Violet Bower d. 1970 · Ziegfeld girl
  • George Bower d. 1690 · engraver
  • Margaret Bower d. 1853
  • Maria Jane Bower d. 1884
  • Lucy Bower d. 1953
  • Ada Bower d. 1945

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bower,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,347 records

2,347 records of the Bower name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 795
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 531
  • Other U.S. records 1,021
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Leonard A. Bower

    Born 1920 in New Jersey. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Niagara Youngstown, New York; salesperson. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Bath National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Pauline Bower

    Arrived at New York in 1866 aboard the Shakespeare from Havre and London, aged 28; farmer. From France, Baden, Germany.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Irvin Lester Bower

    Born 1949; from Linglestown, Pennsylvania. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; died in an accident 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,347 records for Bower in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,075 records

1,075 records of the Bower name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 480
  • Tasmanian Names Index 267
  • Other Australian records 328
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charles Bower

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lady Kennaway, sailing from Cork in 1834. Native of Wooth, Dorset. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1857.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John McRae Bower

    Died 1908 in Linda, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1908.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Georgina Augusta Bower

    Born 1871 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1891 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 20.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,075 records for Bower in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada724 records

724 records of the Bower name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 673
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 21
  • Other Canadian records 30
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Harold C. Bower

    Killed in 1962 at the Birchtown Quarry, Scotia Granite Quarries mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isaac Bower

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Austrian, bound for Guelph, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Doris Bower

    Died 1973, aged 58; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 724 records for Bower in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom52 records

52 records of the Bower name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 37
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 8
  • Other British records 7
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record David Bower

    Born 1853 at Inverkeilor. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jeanie Bower

    Died 1955, aged 68; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Heny Justice Bower

    Buried in 1820 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 75.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 52 records for Bower in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands20 records

20 records of the Bower name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 11
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Friedrich Carl Böwer

    Died 1899 in Roermond, aged 32.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Johan Henrich Böwer

    Died 1847 in Rotterdam, aged 47.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Henricus Bower

    Married in 1730 in Berkhout.

    Open Archives, Westfries Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Bower in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand16 records

16 records of the Bower name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Nelson Bower

    Died 1917, aged 86; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Deborah Bower

    Died 1998, aged 31; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Ann Bower

    Died 1940, aged 81; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Bower in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France14 records

14 records of the Bower name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Iris Eugenie Bower

    Born 1920 in Étaples; died 1984 in Cucq (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Edward William Bower

    Born 1919 in Czechoslovakia; died 1981 in Austria.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Paule Marie Bower

    Born 1904 in Fougères; died 1990 in Vitré (Ille-et-Vilaine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Bower in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany12 records

12 records of the Bower name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Reinhold Böwer

    From Alt Tornawowa, Elbing. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 6 March 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 187).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Böwer

    From Wettringen, Steinfurt. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 14 February 1919 (Infantry Regiment No. 458).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 12 records for Bower in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Norway1 record

1 record of the Bower name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record James Bower

    Census of 1910: Karensfryd, Askøen; "skibsbyggeridirektør", born 1860 in Scotland.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bower.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Bower is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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