Bowmaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Bowmaker 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 Bowmaker family
The surname Bowmaker 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 Bowmaker family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowmaker 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 Bowmaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bowmaker 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. Bowmaker has appeared as Bowmaker, Bowmakker, Boumaker, Bomaker, Bowmacre and many more.
Early Notables of the Bowmaker 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 as Abbey George Bowmaker of Whitrig, who was on the War Committee of Berwick in 1648. John Bowmaker among the Marian martyrs as listed in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1563
Migration of the Bowmaker family to Ireland
Some of the Bowmaker 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.
Bowmaker migration to the United States +
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:
Bowmaker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Elizabeth Bowmaker, aged 27, originally from South Shields, England, who arrived in New York in 1912 aboard the ship "Caronia" from Liverpool, England 3
- John T. Bowmaker, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Millinocket" from Cette, France 3
Bowmaker 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:
Bowmaker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mrs. Isabella Bowmaker, (b. 1825), aged 38, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
- Mr. John Bowmaker, (b. 1825), aged 38, British joiner travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
- Miss Isabella Bowmaker, (b. 1854), aged 9, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
- Miss Hannah Bowmaker, (b. 1859), aged 4, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
- Miss Sarah Bowmaker, (b. 1861), aged 2, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
Contemporary Notables of the name Bowmaker (post 1700) +
- Graham Arthur Bowmaker, Professor in Chemistry at the University of Auckland, New Zealand
The Bowmaker 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 +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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)
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html