History of your Surname
Get access to Bowells family records.Start a free trial

Bowells Family History

Bowells Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Bowell, Howells, Bowes, Boswell, Wells, Powell, Howell, Bodell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Bowells family from?

You can see how Bowells families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowells family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Bowells families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 7 Bowells families living in London. This was about 58% of all the recorded Bowells's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bowells families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowells surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bowells ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farm Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Bowells. 60% of Bowells men worked as a Farm Laborer. .

View Census Data for Bowells | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farm Laborer
    60%
  • Laborer
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bowells family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 555 census records available for the last name Bowells. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowells census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bowells

Passenger Lists

There are 41 immigration records available for the last name Bowells. 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 Bowells immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 46 military records available for the last name Bowells. For the veterans among your Bowells ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowells military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bowells family history

Discover More

What is the average Bowells lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bowells family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Bowells last name

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