Surname Sowden - Meaning and Origin

Sowden: What does the surname Sowden mean?

Sowden is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It's a regional or habitation name derived from the Old English "sūð" meaning "south" and "denu" meaning "valley". Thus, Sowden is understood to mean “south valley”. The name likely originates from a geographical location, probably a southern valley. Various forms of this last name include Souden, Sowdon, Sowthin, and Sowdon. Instances of the Sowden surname have been found in historical documents dated as early as the 14th century in England. Today, people with the surname Sowden can be found in many parts of the world, especially in English-speaking countries like the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Like many surnames, Sowden carries a unique history and is a representation of familial lineage and heritage.

Sowden: Where does the name Sowden come from?

The surname Sowden is today common in many areas across the United Kingdom, as well as in certain parts of Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. It is a relatively common English name derived from the Old Norse "saudr" meaning "to sow".

Sowden appears in the records of England from as early as the 12th century when it was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Sulwardene. In the centuries that followed, the Sowden name spread through the English Midlands including Somerset, Gloucester, Hereford, and Warwickshire counties.

In terms of modern distribution, the top 5 countries with the highest concentration of the Sowden surname are the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The United Kingdom accounts for the highest percentage with the name flourishing in urban and rural areas alike.

In the United States, Sowden is especially common in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Massachusetts. In Australia and New Zealand, the name is common in cities found in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Canada has a strong population of Sowdens in Ontario and Alberta.

All of these countries report a high number of people with the Sowden surname, showing that the name is still a popular one even after nearly a thousand years.

Variations of the surname Sowden

The surname Sowden is of English origin and is also spelled as Sowdon, Souden, and Sowdena. It is derived from the Old English word suddein, which means a hill or grassy slope. The earliest records of the name appear in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Variants of the surname Sowden include Soden, Sowdin, Souten, Suden, Sudenham, Sowdham, Suddon, Suddin, Suter and Sutter. In addition, other spellings include Souden, Seudon, Sideon and Sceudon.

In some cases, Sowden may also be a form of the Anglo-Norman surname de Suddon. The spelling variation occurred when French scribes recorded the name in its Latinised form of de Sudun. The variation Seudon is also thought to be a variation of Suddon.

Other surnames derived from Sowden include Sowdon, Soudon, Sowdena and Soudani. These also appear to have been derived from the same root. Sowdon appears to be the most regular variant, while Soudon is most commonly found in West Yorkshire surnames.

Other surnames related to Sowden include Soden, Soudon, Suddon, Sowdon and Sudun. These all appear to be derived from the same root, although some may also have been derived from Anglicised forms of foreign language surnames.

Famous people with the name Sowden

• Alexander Sowden: English rugby union player
• Stan Sowden: Australian soccer player
• Parker Sowden: American actor
• Tim Sowden: American Christian music vocalist
• Eric Sowden: English Olympic distance runner
• Denis Sowden: Canadian hockey player
• Tom Sowden: Australian football (soccer) player
• Paul Sowden: English footballer
• Liam Sowden: Canadian ice hockey player
• Pat Sowden: British motorcycle racer
• John Sowden: British composer
• Presley Sowden: New Zealand music producer and actor
• Jordan Sowden: English professional soccer player
• David Sowden: Canadian businessman
• Arthur Sowden: Australian cricket player
• Diana Sowden: Canadian politician
• Steve Sowden: American race car driver
• Mark Sowden: Canadian comedian
• Martin Sowden: South-African actor
• Jack Sowden: English cricketer

Other surnames

Sowder