Fowler is an English occupational surname for bird-catchers or bird breeders. The name likely derives from the Old English word “fugelere,” meaning “fowler” or “bird-catcher.” The surname is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the East of England. Notable people with the surname Fowler include professional golfer Rickie Fowler, author Karen Joy Fowler, and biologist William Warde Fowler. The Fowler Museum at UCLA is also named after collector and philanthropist Elizabeth Holmes Fowler.