Contents [hide]

Bower History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Bower History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Bower. It is a name for someone who works as a maker of bows. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word bower, which means bow maker.

Early Origins of the Bower family

The surname Bower 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.

One of the first records of the family was "Lorence atte Bure of the county of Peebles, and William Oftherebure of the county of Roxburgh [who] rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296." 1

Early History of the Bower family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bower research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1317, 1387, 1449, 1479, 1489, 1615, 1664, 1671, 1681, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1702, 1705, 1706, 1718 and 1766 are included under the topic Early Bower History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bower Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Bower has been spelled Bower, Bowre, Bowyr, Bowers, Bowyer, Beauer and many more.

Early Notables of the Bower family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Walter Bower or Bowmaker (d. 1449), Abbot of Inchcolm, reputed continuator of Fordun's 'Chronica Gentis Scotorum,' as it appears in the volume generally known as the 'Scotichronicon.'
Archibald Bower (1686-1766), was a Scottish author of the 'History of the Popes,' born on 17 Jan. 1685 at or near Dundee; according to his own account, he was descended from an ancient family which ha...
George Bower or Bowers (fl. 1681), was an early medallist who worked principally in the reigns of Charles II and James II, and for a short time under William III. In January 1664 he was appointed 'emb...
Bathsheba Bowers (1671-1718), was an American Quaker author and preacher

Bower Ranking

In the United States, the name Bower is the 1,383^rd most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Bower family to Ireland

Some of the Bower 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.

Bower migration to the United States +

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Bower Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Bower who settled in Virginia in 1637
Richard Bower, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 3
Samuel Bower, who landed in Maryland in 1668 3
Mary Bower, who landed in Maryland in 1678 3
Robert Bower, who settled in Virginia in 1698

Bower Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Bower, who landed in Virginia in 1706 3
Martin Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
Susanna Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
Barbara Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
Helena Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bower Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Adam Frederick Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 3
Thomas I Bower, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803-1827 3
Johann Ludwig Bower, aged 5, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 3
Christiana Bower, aged 28, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 3
Christina Bower, aged 3, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bower migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bower Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Bower, "Adam" U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 4
Mr. Adam Bower U.E. who settled in Ernestown, Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1783 4
Mr. Adam Bower U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh, Cataraqui township, [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1783 4
Mr. Adam Bower U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 4
Mr. Gasher Bower U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh, Cataraqui township, [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1783 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bower Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Bower, who landed in Canada in 1820

Bower migration to Australia +

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

Bower Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Bower, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Winchester" in 1838 5
Thomas Bower, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Winchester" in 1838 5
Jane Bower, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 6
Thomas Wilson Bower, English convict from Cheshire, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
J. Bower, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Woodall" in 1849 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bower migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bower Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

David Bower, aged 28, a gardener, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
Jean Bower, aged 22, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
Mr. David Bower, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 9
Mrs. Bower, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 9
Mr. Adam Bower, (b. 1821), aged 36, British stonemason travelling from London aboard the ship "Roehampton" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bower (post 1700) +

John William "Johnny" Bower (1924-2017), born John William Kiszkan, Canadian hockey goaltender, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976, one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history
E. S. Bower, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1912 10
E. G. Bower, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1876 10
E. C. Bower, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1876 10
David Bower, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Tompkins County, 1839 10
Clark M. Bower, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1924 10
Charles C. Bower, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 13th District, 1900 10
C. O. Bower, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Calhoun County, 1955-56; Defeated, 1962 10
Burney E. Bower, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1932 10
Andrew P. Bower, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1900, 1904 10
... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bower family +

Flight 191

E Bower (d. 1979), American passenger from Newport Beach, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 11

Flight TWA 800

Mr. Jordon Michael Bower (1979-1996), from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA, American student from Montoursville flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 12

HMS Hood

Mr. Ronald Bower (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Marlpool, Derbyshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 13
Mr. Reginald P Bower (b. 1923), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Westbourne, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 13

HMS Repulse

Mr. Frank Bower, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 14

The Bower 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.

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WINCHESTER 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Winchester.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN WOODALL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnWoodall.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html

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