Bowen Family Crest and Name History

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Bowen PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Bowen

Bowen

Contents

Bowen history with Bowen Family Crest
Bowen Motto Translated
Suggested Readings for Bowen

Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Bowen Products

Origins Available: Irish, Welsh

Where did the Welsh Bowen family come from? What is the Welsh coat of arms/family crest? When did the Bowen family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

From the Celtic land of Wales came the name of Bowen. The Welsh name Bowen is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Owen, or Owein. The surname Bowen was originally ab-Owen: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ab" or "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. In the early Middle Ages, the general population was almost entirely illiterate and literary languages had inconsistent rules regarding spelling. As a result, people could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Bowen name over the years has been spelled Bowen, Bowne, Bowan, Bowin, Bowene, Bowane and many more.

First found in Pembrokeshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Bowen: Arthur Bowen who settled in Virginia in 1660; another Arthur Bowen settled in Montserrat in 1665; Bridget Bowen settled in Barbados in 1670; James Bowen settled in Maryland in 1774.

Motto Translated: To be, rather than to seem.

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

Suggested Readings for the name Bowen

Bowens of Virginia and Tennessee: Descendants of John Bowen and Lily McIlhaney by Jamie Ault Grady.
Ancestry and Descendants (including the Bowen Family) of Isaac Applin Sheppard and Caroline Mary Holmes, His Wife by Walter Lee Sheppard.

Some noteworthy people of the name Bowen

Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897-1973), American writer of semi fictional biographies and winner of the National Book Award in 1958
Dr. Otis Ray Bowen (b. 1918), American politician and physician, Governor of Indiana (1972-1980)
Ira Sprague Bowen (1898-1973), American astronomer who served as director of both the Mount Wilson Observatory and the Palomar Observatory
Sir Albert Edward Bowen (1858-1924), English judge, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire (1910), created 1st Baronet Bowen, of Colworth, co. Bedford on 10 January 1921
Edmund Bowen FRS (1898-1981), British chemist created a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1935
Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen (1899-1973), British (Irish-born) writer
Lionel Frost Bowen AC, BEM (b. 1922), Australian politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1983 to 1990
Humphry Bowen (1929-2001), British botanist and chemist
Norman Levi Bowen (1887-1956), Canadian geologist awarded the Penrose Medal in 1941

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Bowen family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements

In the Bowen coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Bowen genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Bowen Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Bowen.

Apparel

Apparel revealing the Bowen family crest.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Bowen.

Ceramics

Ceramics proudly displaying the Bowen coat of arms.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Bowen.

Downloads

Downloads displaying the family crest for the name Bowen.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Bowen.

Family Tree

Family Tree featuring the Bowen family crest.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques with a Bowen family crest.

Keychains

Keychains with the family crest for the name Bowen.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads with a Bowen coat of arms.

New Products

New Products revealing the Bowen family crest.

Packages

Packages featuring the Bowen family crest.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames proudly displaying the Bowen coat of arms.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Bowen.

Symbolism

Symbolism revealing the family crest for the surname Bowen.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs proudly displaying the Bowen family crest.

Popular Products
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The Bowen Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Bowen Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.