Show ContentsLower History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origin of the proud surname Lower can be traced to the historic kingdom of Bohemia, which is now part of Czechoslovakia. German surnames developed at a time when most of Bohemia, and most of the German provinces, were states of the Holy Roman Empire. At first people used only a single name, but as the population grew and people began to travel, they began to find it necessary to take on an additional name to differentiate themselves. The distinguished surname Lower is derived from the Middle High German "lewe," meaning "lion."

Early Origins of the Lower family

The surname Lower was first found in Bohemia, where the Lower family became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the family became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. One of the earliest recorded Bohemian bearers of the name was Hensel Lebel, who lived in Budweis in 1387.

Early History of the Lower family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lower research. Another 312 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1265, 1300, 1460, 1465, 1507, 1522, 1628, 1703, 1706, 1733, 1796, 1799 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Lower History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lower Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Loewe, Loewen, Lowen, Lowe, Low, Lower, Löwe, Löw, Leu, Leue, Lau, Laue, Löbe, Lobe, Leb, Lebe and many more.

Early Notables of the Lower family

During this early period, notable bearers of the name Lower included Leon Loewe von Rozmital (around 1465), whose famous descriptions of the Holy Land through which he traveled were translated into many languages, his daughter became the Queen of Bohemia; Hans Leu, The Elder...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lower Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lower Ranking

In the United States, the name Lower is the 7,394th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Lower migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lower Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christianna Lower, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Elisabeth Lower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Elizabeth Lower, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Andreas Lower, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Johannes Lower, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lower Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jonas Friedrich Lower, who arrived in America in 1836 2
  • John Lower, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 2
  • Mr. Thomas Lower, (b. 1801), aged 40, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 3 June 1841 3
  • Martin Lower, aged 17, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
  • Susanne Caroline Lower, who landed in America in 1857 2

Australia Lower migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lower Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frederick W. Lower, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Cheapside" 4
  • F.W. Lower, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cheapside" in 1849 4
  • Matthew Lower, aged 64, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 5
  • Alfred Lower, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 6
  • Matthew Lower, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lower (post 1700) +

  • Brittney Leigh "Britt" Lower (b. 1985), American actress born in Heyworth, Illinois, known for her roles as Liz in Man Seeking Woman, Tanya Sitkowsky in Unforgettable and Helly R in Severance
  • Geoffrey Lower (b. 1963), American actor, best known for his role as Reverend Timothy Johnson on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
  • Cyrus B. Lower (1843-1924), American Private in the Union Army, Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War
  • Robert Alison Lower (1844-1918), American Private in the Union Army, Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War
  • William Barnes Lower, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940 7
  • W. A. Lower, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1928 7
  • Richard Nathaniel Lower (1850-1933), American Republican politician, Banker; Member of Missouri State Senate 15th District, 1925-28 7
  • J. B. Lower, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1920, 1932 7
  • Frank B. Lower, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1940 7
  • Christian Lower (1740-1806), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1783; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate, 1797; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 3rd District, 1805-06 7
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. James Lower (b. 1895), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
  • Mr. Philip Lower (b. 1891), Welsh coal miner from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CHEAPSIDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cheapside.htm
  5. South Australian Register Thursday 29th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Trafalgar 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/trafalgar1854.shtml
  6. South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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