Expert: Laura Kathryn - 6/21/2007

Question
This may be quite a stupid question, but do you happen to know why did he
adopt the last name Bowie?
Thanks.

Answer
Here is an excerpt from an article I found that I think answers your question quite well.

He changed his stage name from Jones to Bowie in 1966 because of the success of Davy Jones on the London stage. That was prior to the success of the Monkees (with Davy Jones). He decided to choose a last name that was also the name of a knife because he liked Mick Jagger (jagger means knife). He chose the name Bowie from the American frontiersman, Texan soldier Jim Bowie, who the knife is named for. He wanted to choose the name of an American, because he's always been interested in that country.