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 Owens family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Owens Family History

Owens Surname Meaning

Welsh: variant of Owen with post-medieval excrescent English -s.

Irish: adopted as an Anglicized form by bearers of the Gaelic surname Mac Eoghain (see McEwen).

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 Owens family from?

You can see how Owens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Owens family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Owens families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,125 Owens families living in Lancashire. This was about 16% of all the recorded Owens's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Owens families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Owens 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 Owens 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 Owens. 12% of Owens men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Owens women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Owens were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Owens | 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
    12%
  • Farmer
    5%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Owens family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 738,000 census records available for the last name Owens. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Owens census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Owens

Passenger Lists

There are 108,000 immigration records available for the last name Owens. 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 Owens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 146,000 military records available for the last name Owens. For the veterans among your Owens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Owens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Owens family history

Discover More

What is the average Owens lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Owens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Owens in 1940 was 48, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Owens

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Owens 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 Owens family tree

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