The Powers surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 91,970 people carried this name — #336 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,210 people counted. That is up 2% from 90,401 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Powers surname

As a surname in the United Kingdom

Harrison explains it as ‘Power's son’.

From Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. II (London: The Morland Press, 1918), p. 89 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

20 people named Powers live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

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

Where they live today

Bern 10
Zurich 4
Geneva 3
Schwyz 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

20 people named Powers is counted in Sweden.

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

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 20

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).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

288 families named Powers, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,643 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 46
North Carolina 35
New Hampshire 34
Vermont 30
Virginia 28
New York 25
Pennsylvania 25
South Carolina 17
Connecticut 15
Maryland 15
Maine 12
Rhode Island 6

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 257 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Powers in American newspapers,
1896.

Newspaper page from The Republican Journal carrying the name Powers
The Republican Journal 1896-06-18
Newspaper page from The Somerset Reporter carrying the name Powers
The Somerset Reporter 1896-06-25
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Powers
Daily Kennebec Journal 1896-09-08

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 25,509 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Powers in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

75,660 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Powers. The most, 28,465, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 25,201
New South Wales 15,710
Victoria 15,246
South Australia 8,809
Western Australia 5,466
Tasmania 4,887
ACT (Canberra) 142
Northern Territory 128

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

Who carried it

People named Powers,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Marion Powers d. 1962 · artist
  • Edward J. Powers d. 1973 · sports executive
  • John Powers d. 2025 · basketball player
  • Larry Powers d. 2015
  • Mary Powers d. 1935
  • John Powers 1732–

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

In the public record

People named Powers,
in the records of 8 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 States11,669 records

11,669 records of the Powers name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 4,171
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 3,437
  • Other U.S. records 4,061
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Martin Robert Powers

    Born 1947; from New York, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, combat engineer; died in an accident 1969 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Joseph H. Powers

    Born 1920 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Devens; mechanic from Bristol County. U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Ethiopia from Glasgow and Moville, aged 17; servant. From Ayr, Scotland; bound for Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 11,669 records for Powers in the United States.

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

Australia381 records

381 records of the Powers name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 153
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 92
  • Other Australian records 136
  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 Ann Powers

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Arab, sailing from London in 1835. Native of Cork. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 30.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. 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 Elizabeth Powers

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Woodbridge, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849. Married 1849 in Bothwell, Tasmania, aged 42.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Denis Powers

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Orient, aged 30; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 381 records for Powers in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada361 records

361 records of the Powers name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 260
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 25
  • Other Canadian records 76
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Powers

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Quebec, bound for Richmond Hill, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Bernard Laurence Powers

    Buried in 1969 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 72.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Thompson Powers

    Died 1955 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 361 records for Powers in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: 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); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom15 records

15 records of the Powers name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 13
  • Welsh wills index cards 2
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Luisita Magdalena Powers

    Will proved in 1939; of Holywell, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. Powers

    Royal Irish Rifles. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas Powers

    Will proved in 1938; of Pantasaph, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Powers in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Powers name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 2
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Elmer Powers

    Married in 1946 in Nijmegen; farmer.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Leslie de Vaughn Powers

    Died 1959 in Loosdrecht, aged 24.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Powers in the Netherlands.

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

France3 records

3 records of the Powers 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 John Thomas Powers

    Born 1943 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Tourlaville (Manche).

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

    Born 1922 in Marly-le-Roi (Yvelines); died 1996 in Poitiers (Vienne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Powers 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).

Ireland2 records

2 records of the Powers name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Tim Powers

    Died 1988, aged 76; buried at Killimorday, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane Powers

    Died 1995, aged 75; buried at Killimorday, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County 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).

New Zealand1 record

1 record of the Powers name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record George Powers

    Died 1999, aged 83; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Powers.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Powers 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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