Show ContentsBowers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Scottish name Bowers was first used by someone who worked as a maker of bows. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word bower, which means bow maker.

Early Origins of the Bowers family

The surname Bowers was first found in Peeblesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd nam Pùballan), former county in South-central Scotland, in the present day Scottish Borders Council Area, where they held a family seat in the old manor of Bower in the parish of Drummelzier.

One of the first records of the family was "Lorence atte Bure of the county of Peebles, and William Oftherebure of the county of Roxburgh [who] rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296." [1]

Early History of the Bowers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowers research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1317, 1387, 1449, 1479, 1489, 1615, 1664, 1671, 1681, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1702, 1705, 1706, 1718 and 1766 are included under the topic Early Bowers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowers Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Bowers has appeared as Bower, Bowre, Bowyr, Bowers, Bowyer, Beauer and many more.

Early Notables of the Bowers family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • George Bower or Bowers (fl. 1681), was an early medallist who worked principally in the reigns of Charles II and James II, and for a short time under William III. In January 1664 he was appointed 'emb...
  • Bathsheba Bowers (1671-1718), was an American Quaker author and preacher

Bowers World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bowers is the 473rd most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. [2] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bowers is ranked the 598th most popular surname with an estimated 77 people with that name. [3] And in the United Kingdom, the name Bowers is the 730th popular surname with an estimated 9,195 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Bowers family to Ireland

Some of the Bowers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bowers migration to the United States +

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them:

Bowers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jonas Bowers, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [5]
  • George Bowers, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1644 [5]
  • Matthew Bowers, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1645 [5]
  • John Bowers, who arrived in Connecticut in 1649 [5]
  • Xph Bowers, who landed in Virginia in 1655 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bowers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Bowers, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [5]
  • Arthur Bowers, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [5]
  • Thomas Bowers, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 [5]
  • William Bowers, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 [5]
  • Barne Bowers, who arrived in New York in 1785 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bowers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Bowers, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 [5]
  • A Bowers, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [5]
  • Joe Bowers, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 [5]
  • Charles E Bowers, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [5]
  • Mrs. Bowers, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Bowers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bowers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Richard Bowers, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • John Bowers, who settled in St. John's Newfoundland in 1778 [6]
  • Joseph Bowers from Bristol England settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, and died in 1787 [6]

Australia Bowers migration to Australia +

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

Bowers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Bowers, 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 [7]
  • Mr. Isaac Bowers, British Convict who was convicted in Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]

New Zealand Bowers 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:

Bowers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Bowers, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th October 1863 [9]
  • Mr. Elizabeth Bowers, (b. 1839), aged 24, English domestic servant from Gloucestershire travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 [9]
  • Mrs. Fanny Bowers, (b. 1820), aged 47, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 [10]
  • Miss Eliza Bowers, (b. 1853), aged 14, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 [10]
  • Miss Louisa Bowers, (b. 1856), aged 11, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bowers (post 1700) +

  • Charles P. Bowers (1929-2015), American baseball talent scout and former pitcher in the Minor Leagues
  • Kathryn Inez Bowers (1943-2015), American politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
  • Brigadier-General James Isaiah Bowers (1897-1982), American Adjutant-General of New Jersey (1942) [11]
  • Bryan Bowers (b. 1940), American musician, autoharp virtuoso
  • Edgar Bowers (1924-2000), American author
  • William Bowers (1916-1987), American playwright and screenplay writer
  • Claude Gernade Bowers, American journalist, historian, and diplomat
  • Anne H. Bowers, American Republican politician, Candidate for Kentucky State House of Representatives 34th District, 1975 [12]
  • Allen Bowers, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2008 [12]
  • A. G. Bowers, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1924 [12]
  • ... (Another 73 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leo S Bowers (b. 1918), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Knowle, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [13]


The Bowers 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: Ad metam
Motto Translation: To the mark.


Suggested Readings for the name Bowers +

  • Hill Family of Early Central Texas-Bowers, Cole, McGehee, Michel, Roessler, Shelby by Yates Michel Hill.

  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  5. 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)
  6. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 22) James Bowers. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Bowers/James_Isaiah/USA.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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