Bowlin
Bowlin is usually an English or Irish surname that likely began as a nickname or a spelling variant of a longer name such as Bowland, Bollen, or Baldwin.
The #5,055 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 44,501 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Because no direct historical dictionary entry was provided, Bowlin is best treated as a surname of uncertain origin. In many cases it is explained as a shortened or altered form of another surname beginning with Bow- or Boll-, or as an Anglicized spelling shaped by local pronunciation. It may also reflect a nickname-based formation, but the exact root is not secure.
History
The surname is found in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where spellings often shifted as families moved and records were kept by ear. Bowlin is probably related to one of several similar surnames rather than having a single universally accepted origin. Modern bearers may therefore have different ancestral lines behind the same spelling.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Surnames like Bowlin are a good example of how one family name can grow several different spellings over time, especially in census and immigration records.