Show ContentsBovmaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bovmaker is an ancient Strathclyde-Briton name for a person who worked as a person who made bows, a bowyer. "This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the bowmaker,' a bowyer." 1

Early Origins of the Bovmaker family

The surname Bovmaker 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. Further south "a family of the name lived in Alnwick for several centuries, and it is chiefly in Newcastle and South Northumberland." 1

"In 1343 there is entry of payment for wine for Gislinus boumaker. In 1376 John Bovmaker was bailie of Haddington, and in 1395 he was deputy of William Cockburn bailie of the same burgh. In 1396 he appears again as John Bouman, which seems to point to Bower, Bowmaker, and Bowman being the same in meaning. " 2

Early History of the Bovmaker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bovmaker research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1343, 1376, 1385, 1395, 1417, 1422, 1449, 1539, 1557, 1558, 1563 and 1648 are included under the topic Early Bovmaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bovmaker Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Bovmaker has appeared as Bowmaker, Bowmakker, Boumaker, Bomaker, Bowmacre and many more.

Early Notables of the Bovmaker family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Walter Bower or Bowmaker (c. 1385-1449), Scottish chronicler, Abbot of Inchcolm (1417-1449); Thomas Bowmaker, 1539, Newcastle-on-Tyne was noted as capabvle of bearing arms; well...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bovmaker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bovmaker family to Ireland

Some of the Bovmaker family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bovmaker family

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them: John Boumaker who settled in Philadelphia in 1753.



The Bovmaker 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.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. 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)


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