Townes

Townes is a name used as both a surname and a given name in English. It is most commonly encountered as a surname, but Townes can also appear as a rare given name, sometimes derived from places named Town or Townes or as a variant of Towns or Towne.

Origin and usage: Townes is typically toponymic, tied to a town or enclosure. The form may reflect descent from or association with a particular locality. In modern contexts, the surname Townes is found in English-speaking countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, and may appear in various spellings that emphasize related roots.

Notable people: As a surname, Townes is associated with prominent figures in science and the arts. Charles Townes (1915–2015) was an American physicist and Nobel laureate who helped develop the maser and laser. Townes as a given name is rarer but has gained recognition in cultural contexts, such as Townes Van Zandt (1944–1997), an American singer-songwriter known for his contributions to country-folk music.

See also: Towns (disambiguation) and Towne (surname) for related forms and potential variations of the name.