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![Show Contents]() Bowyear History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Bowyear is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a maker or trader of bows. A Bowyer's Company still exists in London. 1 Some sources claim that the name was derived from the French name Bouvier as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Hugo Bouvier and John Bouvier were of Normandy, 1180-95. 2 Early Origins of the Bowyear familyThe surname Bowyear was first found in Buckinghamshire but other branches of the family were also found in Berkshire, Staffordshire and Sussex. Buckinghamshire was the home to two baronetcies: Denham Court and in the twentieth century, Weston Underwood. One of the first records of the family in Britain was William Bowyer who was listed in Sussex the the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same source lists William le Boghyere, but no county. 3 Early History of the Bowyear familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowyear research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1558, 1588, 1612, 1613, 1614, 1623, 1641, 1642, 1644, 1649, 1653, 1659, 1660, 1666, 1679, 1681, 1691, 1699, 1761, 1767 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Bowyear History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bowyear Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bowyear 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 Bowyear include: Bowyer, Bowyers, Bowyere, Bowyear and others. Early Notables of the Bowyear familyDistinguished members of the family include Sir William Bowyer, Lord Mayor of London; Sir William Bowyer (c 1588-1641), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1641; Sir Edmund Bowyer (1613-1681), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679; and Sir John Bowyer, 1st Baronet (1623-1666) English soldier and politician.
Sir William Bowyer, 1st Baronet (1612-1679), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1679...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bowyear Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Bowyear family to Ireland
Some of the Bowyear 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. Migration of the Bowyear familyMany 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 Bowyear or a variant listed above: Daniel Bowyer who settled in Virginia in 1635; Arthur Bowyer settled in west New Jersey in 1654 with his wife Grace; Henry Bowyer settled in Virginia in 1653.
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: Contentment passe richesse
Motto Translation: Contentment surpasses riches.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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England
Ireland
