This most interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a topographical name for someone who lived on a bank above an expanse of water, from the Olde English pre 7th Century "bufan", Middle English "buven", meaning "above", and the second element the Olde English "waeter", Middle English "water", water. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, as both man-made and natural features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages.
The name is widespread in Staffordshire. Early recordings include the marriage of Thomas Bowater and Jane Ley at Tamworth, Staffordshire, on June 15th 1589; and the christening of Margaret, daughter of John Bowater, on November 18th 1604, at St. Lawrence Jewry, London. An interesting namebearer was Sir Edward Bowater (1787 - 1861), who served in the Peninsula and Waterloo campaigns, 1808 - 1815, and was groom-in-waiting to the Queen in 1846; he rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Bowater, which was dated June 15th 1589, marriage to Jane Ley, at Tamworth, Staffordshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of bowater leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname bowater is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
There is a considerable probability that bowater has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where bowater is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname bowater provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named bowater are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname bowater, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of bowater developed.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of bowater could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about bowater and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname bowater, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname bowater were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname bowater, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of bowater are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bowater, and at the same time, of surnames in general.