What was David Bowie's real surname?

David Bowie's real surname was Jones because he was born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947. He changed his name to David Bowie in order to avoid confusion with Davy Jones, the lead singer of The Monkees. Bowie's decision to adopt a different surname allowed him to establish his own unique identity as a musician and artist, separate from any associations with the popular 1960s band.