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Cowens Family History

Cowens Surname Meaning

Scottish and English (Northumberland): variant of Scottish Cowans.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cowens family from?

You can see how Cowens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cowens family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cowens families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 87 Cowens families living in Durham. This was about 38% of all the recorded Cowens's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Cowens families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cowens surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Cowens 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 Cowens. 34% of Cowens men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Cowens women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cowens were Shepherd and House Duties.

View Census Data for Cowens | 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
    34%
  • Shipherd
    34%
  • Shepherd
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Domestic Servant
    7%
  • Retired
    7%
  • House Duties
    5%

What Cowens family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Cowens. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cowens census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cowens

Passenger Lists

There are 273 immigration records available for the last name Cowens. 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 Cowens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 532 military records available for the last name Cowens. For the veterans among your Cowens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cowens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cowens family history

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What is the average Cowens lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Cowens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1985, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Cowens in 1962 was 76, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cowens

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cowens 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.

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