Surname Mowry - Meaning and Origin

Mowry: What does the surname Mowry mean?

The surname Mowry is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Maurice/Morris. The given name Morris is thought to have originated from the Latin Maur-us, which means "dark-skinned, Moorish" or "man from the region of the Moors".

This suggests the surname Mowry is of European origin, most likely originating from England or possibly Ireland. It has been noted that the surname Mowry is rarely found outside of North America, suggesting a strong link to immigration from the UK and Ireland to the United States.

Mowry is an uncommon surname, ranking 6,324th in the United States in terms of population. It is most popular in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, suggesting a strong connection to the people who settled in the New England area in the early colonial period.

The original meaning of the name Mowry is "descendant of Maurice", and could have been used as a form of identification by early immigrant families. Though the exact origin of the name Mowry is uncertain, its popularity in New England suggests that it is most likely of English or Irish origins.

Mowry: Where does the name Mowry come from?

The last name Mowry is abundant today in the United States, where it is the 541st most common surname according to the US Census Bureau. It is also particularly prevalent around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it ranks among the top 200 most popular surnames.

The etymology of the name comes from the Medieval English “mawr”, meaning “great” or “grand”, indicating a person of higher rank or status. Therefore, it is likely that Mowry was originally a nickname associated with a person accepted as important or powerful in his or her community.

The most famous bearer of the surname today is the Mowry family of actors. Tia and Tamera Mowry rose to fame in the 1990s after starring in the hit sitcom “Sister, Sister.” Their brother, Tahj Mowry, is also a celebrated actor, known for his roles in Disney Channel movies such as Smart Guy, Full House, and the 2019 reboot of Kim Possible.

The Mowry surname is a testament to both its Old English roots and a modern-day Hollywood legacy. As the family’s influence continues to grow, so too does the popularity of the Mowry name, guaranteeing that it will be around for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Mowry

The surname Mowry is of English origin that is generally believed to have derived from Old English words "mor" or "moor" meaning moor or marshlands. There are many variants and spellings of this surname. These variants include Moure, Maure, More, Mora, Moor, Moar, Moors, Moore, Maurer, Muir, and Mure.

In terms of surnames of the same origin, Mowry can also be spelled Mowery, Mowrey, Mowrye, Meury, Meurye, Moury, Moory, Maury, Maurie, and Mury. All of these spellings and surname variants are found in England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The Mowery surname especially is most concentrated in the United States, originating from the Scots-Irish settlers who emigrated during the eighteenth century. Other surnames of the same origin include Maury, Muir, and Moore.

Maury is found particularly in France, where it is an occupational name derived from the Old French word mauroier meaning "to plant or manage a moor," while the Muir surname is of both Scottish and English origin and is derived from the Old English word "mor" meaning "moor". Moore is another common name of the same origin, believed to mean "a person who lived near a moor" or "a person who lived in or near a mossy area" in Old English.

All in all, the surname Mowry is believed to be derived from words meaning "moor" and have several variants and surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Mowry

• Tamera Mowry-Housley: An American actress best known for her roles on the illustrious 90s sitcom, Sister, Sister, and in the Lifetime movie, The Interracial adoption Story.
• Tia Mowry-Hardrict: An actress and singer, most famous for her starring role on Sister, Sister and the Nickelodeon show, Instant Mom.
• Tahj Mowry: An American actor, dancer, and voice actor and best known for his role on Disney's Smart Guy.
• Clare-Hope Ashitey: An English actress famous for her role in the 2007 dystopian drama Children of Men.
• George Mowry: An American historian and author of The Era of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement.
• Denise Mowry: An American professional golfer and entrepreneur.
• Ernest Mowry: A New Zealand Rugby Union player who played between 1895 and 1905.
• Glyn Mowry: Former Honorary Colonel of the British Army's 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
• Linda Mowry: An American composer, sound designer, sound editor, and sound engineer, most known for her work in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Loretta Mowry: An American singer and songwriter who came to fame in the late 1960s.

Other surnames

Mowrey