Brower
A surname usually taken as a Dutch occupational name for a brewer.
The #2,423 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,652 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Brower is commonly explained as a Dutch surname from Brouwer, meaning “brewer.” The form was likely carried into English-speaking areas by Dutch families, and it aligns with the well-known occupational surname pattern seen in related names such as Brewer. The spelling with -ow- reflects English adaptation of the Dutch vowel sound.
History
The name appears in 19th-century surname collections as a Dutch-origin form, and it is found in English-speaking records, especially where Dutch and English naming traditions mixed. In the United States, Brower became established through immigrant families and their descendants, with the spelling stabilizing in English usage over time.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from the same trade as Brewer, Brower is one of those surnames that quietly preserves an old everyday occupation.
From the historical record
“Flintshire, England. BROWER. (Dutch.) From Brouwer, a brewer. BROWN. A name derived from complexion, color of hair or garments, consequently, a very common name. BROWNSON. The son of Brown. BRUCE. (Nor. Fr.) Local. De Bruys ; from Bray or Bruys, a place in Normandy where the family originated. De Bruys was one of…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names