First found in Cheshire, where they were seated from very early times, and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. They were originally of Bodin in Normandy.

Settlers found farms all along the eastern part of what would become the United States and Canada. They provided a base and a backbone that would strengthen two great nations in the making. In the 20th century, the ancestors of those brave Scots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and Scottish historical societies. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Bowden or a variant listed above, including: Ambrose Bowden who settled in Maine in 1620; Jane Bowden settled in Virginia in 1653; John Bowden settled in Jamaica in 1661; Martha Bowden settled in Barbados in 1664.

For more information on the last name Bowden, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.