Bowder History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Bowder is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a sifter of meal. Other evidence suggests that the surname Bowder was established as an area called Boulder. From there people acquired the surname. The name is also derived from the Old English word bulder which means boulder or cobblestone. Alternatively the name could have been derived from the word bolter which was a miller. Boulter's Lock and Boutler's Island are both located on the River Thames on the eastern side of Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Early Origins of the Bowder family

The surname Bowder was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Bowder family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowder research. Another 33 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1272, 1635, 1671, 1672, 1694, 1698, 1701, 1709, 1719, 1724 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Bowder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowder Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bowder are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bowder include Boulter, Bolter, Boulder, Bolteir and others.

Early Notables of the Bowder family

Distinguished members of the family include Edmund Boulter (c.1635-1709), a London merchant and politician, Sheriff of London (1694); Edmund Boulter (c. 1635-1709), a London merchant and politician, Sheriff of London in July 1694, Member of Parliament for Boston (1698-1701); and Dr. Hugh Boulter (1672-1742), Church...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bowder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bowder family to Ireland

Some of the Bowder 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.

Bowder migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bowder or a variant listed above:

Bowder Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Bowder, who landed in Maryland in 1674 1

Bowder migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bowder Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss M Bowder, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Citations +

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)