Bowlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Bowlin:

Bowlin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Francis Bowlin, who landed in Maryland in 1665 3
• James Bowlin, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 3

• Loy Allen Bowlin (1909-1995), also known as The Original Rhinestone Cowboy, an American outsider artist
• Lois Weldon Bowlin (b. 1940), American Major League Baseball third baseman
• Robert Bowlin (b. 1956), award-winning American bluegrass and country musician 4
• James Butler Bowlin (1804-1874), American Congressional Representative from Missouri
• William Bowlin, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Mississippi 1st District, 1990 5
• Thomas J. Bowlin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 5
• Kenneth M. Bowlin, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Missouri State House of Representatives from Andrew County, 1964 5
• James Butler Bowlin (1804-1874), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives, 1836; State Court Judge in Missouri, 1839; U.S. Representative from Missouri, 1843-51 5