Bowman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Bowman

What does the name Bowman mean?

The name Bowman is another word for the occupational "archer." Or in other words, "a fighting man armed with a bow; one who made bows." 1 It is a fairly "common name on the English border under the Percys, and derived from their weapon-the long bow." 2 At one time, "Bowman was the name of a Border Clan of Northumberland." 3

Early Origins of the Bowman family

The surname Bowman was first found in Westmorland where one of the earliest records of the family was Adam Bogheman was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1223. A few years later in Northumberland, Thomas Bouman was found in the Assize Rolls for 1279. In Cheshire, Nicholas the Bowemon, the Bouman was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1286-1287. 4

Just over the northern border of Northumberland in Scotland, Gregory Bovman rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the Sheriff of Aberdeen in 1328 and appears as Gregory dictus Bowman in an inquisition in Aberdeen in 1333. "Gyb Bowman in Aberdeen was charged with being a forestaller in 1402. Robert Bowman, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder in 1526. The surname is common in the West Coast, and is found in Glasgow so early as 1550 (Protocols, I), and in Stirling in 1592." 5

Early History of the Bowman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowman research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1621, 1660, 1677, 1679, 1704, 1723, 1733, 1784 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bowman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bowman, Boeman, Boyman, Boman and others.

Early Notables of the Bowman family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Sir Robert Bowman of Northumberland; Seymour Bowman (c. 1621-1704), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Old Sarum in 1660; and John Bowman (1733-1784), Virginia and Kentucky soldier and of...
Henry Bowman published at Oxford in 1677 a thin folio volume bearing the title of 'Songs for one, two, and three voyces to the Thorow-Bass. With some Short Simphonies. Collected out of some of the Sel...

Bowman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bowman is the 248^th most popular surname with an estimated 106,941 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Bowman is ranked the 771^st most popular surname with an estimated 6,956 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Bowman is the 413^rd popular surname with an estimated 8,963 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Bowman as 793^rd with 918 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Bowman as 586^th with 11,134 people. 10

Migration of the Bowman family to Ireland

Some of the Bowman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bowman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nathaniel Bowman (1610-1682), one of the earliest settlers of the Massachusetts Bay colony is generally regarded as the first Bowman immigrant
Mrs. Anna Bowman who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, settled in Watertown
Nathaniel Bowman, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, settled in Watertown 11
Nathaniel Bowman, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1637 11
William Bowman, who landed in Maryland in 1639 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliz Bowman, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
Samuel Bowman, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 11
Edward Bowman, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 11
Hans Dieterick Bowman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1727 11
Daniel Bowman, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1727
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Isaac Bowman, who landed in Ohio in 1811 11
Susanna Bowman, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 11
Roger Bowman, who arrived in New York in 1832 11
William Bowman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 11
John Frederick Bowman, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnes Ann Bowman, who landed in Alabama in 1926 11

Bowman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bowman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Abraham Bowman U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 he was a drummer in the King's Royal Regiment of New York in 1780 then served as part of the Butler's Ranger Regiment 12
Mr. Adam Bowman Jr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 12
Mr. Adam Bowman Sr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 12
Mr. Andrew Bowman U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1783 12
Mr. George Adam Bowman U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 he served as part of the Butler's Rangers Regiment with brother Jacob Bowman 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jonathan Bowman, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Joseph, Bowman Jr., who arrived in Canada in 1831
Joseph, Bowman Sr., who landed in Canada in 1831
Benjamin, Bowman Sr., who landed in Canada in 1831
John Bowman, who arrived in Canada in 1831
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bowman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Bowman, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 13
Mr. John Bowman, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Alexander Bowman, (b. 1777), aged 38, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1816 15
Mr. Thomas Bowman, English convict who was convicted in North Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. William Bowman, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bowman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bowman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

D Bowman, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
David Bowman, aged 31, a carpenter, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Janet Bowman, aged 28, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
D. Bowman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 17th March 1841 17
Samuel Bowman, aged 33, a blacksmith, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bowman (post 1700) +

Patricia Bowman (1908-1999), American ballerina, ballroom dancer, musical theatre actress, television personality, and dance teacher, the first prima ballerina of the Radio City Music Hall, founding member of the American Ballet Theatre
Barbara Taylor Bowman (1928-2024), American early childhood education expert/advocate, professor, and author
Benny Jack Bowman (1932-2022), American politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1967 to 1976
John Gabbert Bowman (1877-1962), Americanm academic, the tenth Chancellor (1921–1945) of the University of Pittsburgh and the ninth President (1911–1914) of the University of Iowa
Bill Bowman (1946-2020), American politician and businessman, Member of the North Dakota Senate (1990-2018)
Ernest Ferrell "Ernie" Bowman (1935-2019), American Major League Baseball infielder who appeared in 165 games in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants from 1961 to 1963
Urban M. Bowman Jr. (1937-2018), American football player and CFL coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Robert Leroy "Bob" Bowman (1930-2017), American Major League Baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1959
Henry Woods "Woods" Bowman (1941-2015), American politician and educator
David Bowman (1932-2015), American Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States
... (Another 119 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bowman family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Howard Alton Bowman, Canadian Seaman Second Class from Iowa, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 18

USS Indianapolis

Charles Edward Bowman (1923-1945), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 19

Vimy Ridge

Charles Edward Bowman (1896-1917), Canadian electrician, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
John Bowman (1887-1917), Canadian teamster, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge February 1917

The Bowman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Numine et arcu
Motto Translation: The bow by God's providence.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew