This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Bowles family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Bowles Family History

Bowles Surname Meaning

English: variant of Bowell with post-medieval excrescent -s.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bowles family from?

You can see how Bowles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bowles families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 933 Bowles families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Bowles's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bowles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Bowles ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bowles. 9% of Bowles men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Bowles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bowles were Gardener and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Bowles | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Carpenter
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%

What Bowles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 203,000 census records available for the last name Bowles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bowles

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Bowles. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bowles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 30,000 military records available for the last name Bowles. For the veterans among your Bowles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bowles family history

Discover More

What is the average Bowles lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Bowles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Bowles in 1941 was 41, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bowles

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bowles ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bowles family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial