Origin of Bowyer


This is an English occupational name for one who made or sold bows, an important and respected profession in medieval England. The bowyers and the fletchers (arrow smiths) always marched together in the trade processions. The poet John Skelton writes, in 'the Maner of the World', 'so many bowyers, so many fletchers, and so few good archers, saw I never'. The derivation of the name is from the Old English pre 7th Century 'boga', from 'bugan', to bend. Middle English 'bow' and thence 'bowyere'. In the modern idiom the name has three spellings, Bowyer, Boyer and Boayer.

Church records include Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Bowyer, who was christened on August 15th 1540 in St. Mary Magdalenes, London, and Anne, daughter of Thomas Bowyer, who was christened on July 3rd 1548, in St. Mary's, Woolnoth, London. One Daniell Bowyer was one of the early settlers in America, leaving London on the 'George', in August 1635, bound for Virginia. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailwardus le Bogiere, which was dated 1183, London Pipe Rolls, during the reign of King Henry 11, 'The Builder of Churches', 1154 - 1189. 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.

  1. England England
  2. United States United States
  3. Australia Australia
  4. Canada Canada
  5. South Africa South Africa
  6. Wales Wales
  7. New Zealand New Zealand
  8. Scotland Scotland
  9. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland
  10. Singapore Singapore
  11. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
  12. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago

The surname Bowyer. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of bowyer 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 bowyer is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname bowyer, and in addition to the original locations of bowyer, we can find out where people with the surname bowyer can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of bowyer.

The surname Bowyer around the world

There is a considerable probability that bowyer 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 bowyer is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname bowyer provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname bowyer has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Bowyer

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 bowyer 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 bowyer, 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 bowyer developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname bowyer are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname bowyer.

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 bowyer 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 bowyer and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname bowyer or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of bowyer.

Notable Figures Named Bowyer

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname bowyer, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname bowyer were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like bowyer can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname bowyer, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname bowyer who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Bowyer and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname bowyer, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of bowyer are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname bowyer, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of bowyer.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bowyer, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

  1. Boeyer
  2. Bouyer
  3. Bower
  4. Bowier
  5. Boyer
  6. Bayer
  7. Bewer
  8. Beyer
  9. Biwer
  10. Boer
  11. Boher
  12. Bohier
  13. Boier
  14. Booer
  15. Booher
  16. Borye
  17. Bouer
  18. Bouier
  19. Bouwer
  20. Bowar
  21. Bowery
  22. Bowre
  23. Boyar
  24. Boyero
  25. Boyher
  26. Buyer
  27. Byer
  28. Bowrey
  29. Bawer
  30. Boayar
  31. Baer
  32. Baher
  33. Baier
  34. Bauer
  35. Bayar
  36. Bayor
  37. Bayr
  38. Beer
  39. Beier
  40. Ber
  41. Berye
  42. Beyor
  43. Bier
  44. Biewer
  45. Boar
  46. Boehr
  47. Boera
  48. Boeri
  49. Boero
  50. Boeru