Fowler Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Fowler last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Fowler last name
Meaning of the Fowler last name: bird catcher. Fowler described a man who caught birds for a living, from Old English fugelere. Fowlers trapped wild birds with nets, snares and lime for the table, and sometimes worked for great households that kept falcons and hawks. The name is spread across England, with concentrations in the south-west, the Midlands and Lancashire, and it is also found in Scotland. William Fowler, a 17th-century settler, was among the founders of Milford in Connecticut. The name is now widespread in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Fowler name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Fowler name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Scotland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Fowler name FAQ
What does the Fowler name mean?
Bird catcher. Common variants include Fouler, Vogler, Fogler.
Where does the Fowler surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Scotland.
Is there a Fowler coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Fowler crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Fowler coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.