Show ContentsBoscow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Boscow derives their name from the local Boscawen, in Cornwall best known for Boscawen-Un, a Bronze age stone circle close to St Buryan. It consists of 19 upright stones in an ellipse. An old Welsh triad mentions a principal gorseddau on the Island of Britain as "Beisgawen in Dumnonia", which most believe refer to Boscawen-Un by the Gorseth's founders. In more recent years, Boscawen, New Hampshire was named after Edward Boscawen, the British admiral who distinguished himself at the 1758 Siege of Louisbourg.

Early Origins of the Boscow family

The surname Boscow was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Tregothnan. "Descended from Henry who lived in the reign of King John, and who took the name of Bascawen from the lordship of Boscawen-Rose, still the property of the family. " 1

So as to confirm this very early claim, another source notes: "that the Boscawens possessed this place so early as the reign of John, and that it was the original seat of that ancient family, who took from thence their name; and that the Boscawens removed to Tregothnan, in consequence of a marriage with an heiress of the Tregothman family, in the reign of Edward III. at which place their descendants still continue to reside." 2

Another interesting note about the family: "According to Hals, one of the Cornish historians, the first Boscawen who settled in Cornwall was an Irishman whose name does not appear to be now known; but whatever it may have been, it was soon exchanged for that of the place (which still bears the same name) in the parish of St. Buryan, a few miles from the Land's End, where he took up his abode, viz. at Boscawen Ros - the valley of elder trees. Other branches of the Boscawens settled in later times at Tregameer, in St. Columb Major, and at Trevallock in Creed, or St. Stephen's. All traces of the marriages of the earliest Boscawens seem to be lost until we reach the reign of Edward I, when Henry de Boscawen (about 1292) took to wife Hawise Trewoof. In 1335 John de Boscawen. by marrying an heiress, Joan de Tregothnan, acquired the Tregothnan property on the banks of the river Fal, where the family seat still is; the present building, however, dating only from 1815. " 3

Early History of the Boscow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boscow research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1164, 1510, 1600, 1625, 1627, 1628, 1646, 1654, 1680, 1685, 1689, 1701 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Boscow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boscow Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Boscowen, Boscawen, Boscoan, Boscoe, Boscow and others.

Early Notables of the Boscow family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Charles Boscawen (1627-1689), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Cornwall between 1654 and 1689; and his brother Hugh Boscawen (1625-1701), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Cornwall between 1646 and...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boscow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Boscow migration to Australia +

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

Boscow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Boscow, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1840


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