Surname Powe - Meaning and Origin
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Powe: What does the surname Powe mean?
The surname Powe is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century term "pal," which means "stake" or "boundary mark." It was frequently used as a landmark for delineating property boundaries. As a result, the surname Powe may have originated as a topographic name for someone who lived close to such a boundary mark. Moreover, it could have also been a nickname for a tall, thin person, likening his physical attributes to that of a pole. Some variants of this surname include Poole, Pole, Poul, Pohle, Pohl, and Powles. Its early appearances in official records include Richard de la Pole, who was noted in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, England, in 1273, and William Polle, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. A notable member of the Powe family is the American football player, Jerrell Powe. It's important to keep in mind that last names often have multiple origins, reflecting different languages and evolution over time. So, the interpretation of the surname Powe might differ across different cultures and geographies.
Order DNA origin analysisPowe: Where does the name Powe come from?
The last name Powe is common primarily in the United States, where it is recorded in 29 states. It is most prevalent in the South, particularly in the states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is also found in North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. Smaller numbers of Powes can also be found in Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, and Maryland.
The surname appears to have originated in England in the 12th century. Its derivation is uncertain but may be related to "power" or "pow." It likely originated as an occupational name for someone who was strong in physical prowess or had administrative authority, such as a steward or bailiff.
It is likely that the surname was brought to the United States by early English settlers, most likely in the 18th century. The Powe name is particularly concentrated in the Deep South. There is an African American line of the Powe surname, which first developed after Emancipation in the 1860s and following the American Civil War. A prominent African American family with the surname is descended from the Rev. Draper Sylvester Powe (1854-1930) of Savannah, Georgia. Many members of this branch of the Powe family now live in the state of Florida.
Today, individuals with the Powe surname can also be found in Europe, notably in England, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Powe
The surname Powe is a variant of the surname Power, which is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Power or Old French name Puer. Hence, variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Powers, Powery, Puer, Puera, Pueram, Puerle, Powar and Puerlar. In the past, many people used to change their surname to Lerner, an Anglicized version of the German/Jewish name Löhner, in order to hide their Jewish heritage. So, the surnames Löhner, Lohner and Lerner are also related to the surname Powe.
Furthermore, the surname Powe is also found in Germany, Ireland and Scotland. Spellings and variants of the name in these countries include Powie, Powys, MacPowis, McPowys and MacPoweys.
In Scotland, the surname Powe has been spelled as Po or Pau. In Ireland, the name is sometimes spelled as Po, Pau, Pauw, Pawe and Pews. Variants of the surname in Irish include Pehew, Pou and Pouw.
In Scotland, the surname Powe is sometimes anglicized as Macpow, Macpau and Macpaul.
In Germany, the name is found as Pau, Pauu, Puer, Power and Powe. Variants of the surname in Germany include Puerlein, Puerl, Pueridel and Puerlen.
Overall, the surname Powe and its variants have a long multi-cultural history. Added to the given variants, varied spellings and related surnames, the surname Powe has also many origins in different countries.
Famous people with the name Powe
- Ryan Powe: professional American football player for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
- DuVernay Powe: professional American football player for the Canadian Football League.
- Mary Helen Powe: American historian who taught at Howard University.
- Lawrence Powe: American historian and scholar.
- Emmitt Powe: American soccer player who played for the United States National Team.
- Caleb Powe: American artist from New York City.
- Micha Powe: American singer and songwriter.
- Douglas Powe: American criminal lawyer and television personality.
- Joshua Powe: American film producer and executive producer.
- Rob Powe: professional American football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League.