Sowa (surname)
Sowa () is a surname with multiple origins, including Polish, Ghanaian, and Japanese. Etymology. Europe. Among individuals of European origin, the surname "Sowa" is derived from the Polish noun "sowa" (owl). In some cases, it may be an alternative spelling of the surname Sova, which is a Ukrainian, Czech, Belarusian, Slovak and Russian cognate. Both are derived from Proto-Slavic *sova. Polish name expert Kazimierz Rymut mentions the name in his book "Nazwiska Polaków" ("The Surnames of Poles"). Rymut says the name appears in records as early as 1404 and comes from the noun "sowa", which means "owl". Fred  Hoffman, author of "Polish Surnames", explains that a common practice in the early days of surname adoption was its bestowal upon people as a nickname because of their connection to the meaning behind the name, which was, in this case, an owl. Other countries. The surname is also found in Ghana and Japan, with unrelated etymologies.