Show ContentsBowoold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the bearers of the Bowoold family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in or near the village of Bowood, in the parish of Netherbury in Dorset.

Early Origins of the Bowoold family

The surname Bowoold was first found in Dorset, where the name is associated with the village of Bowood in the parish of Netherbury. In the Domesday Book survey of 1086 Bowood was recorded as lands held by the Bishop of Salisbury. 1

Early History of the Bowoold family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowoold research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1377 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Bowoold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowoold Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bowoold include Bowd, Bowood, Bowode, Bowed, Bowwd, Bowoode and many more.

Early Notables of the Bowoold family

More information is included under the topic Early Bowoold Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bowoold family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bowoold or a variant listed above: A. Bowde, who arrived in New Jersey in 1664.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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