Show ContentsBoeing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the Celtic land of Wales came the name of Boeing. The Welsh name Boeing is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Owen, or Owein. The surname Boeing was originally ab-Owen: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ab" or "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time. [1]

Early Origins of the Boeing family

The surname Boeing was first found in Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro), a county in south-west Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth. However, the family are also numerous in Shropshire. [2]

Early census records for Wales are rare so we should not be surprised to find that one of the first records was found as late as 1487, where Lewis ap-Owen, was listed in County of Cardigan. [1]

Early History of the Boeing family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boeing research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1590, 1624, 1704, 1761 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Boeing History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boeing Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Boeing have included Bowen, Bowne, Bowan, Bowin, Bowene, Bowane and many more.

Early Notables of the Boeing family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Robert Ap John Ap Thomas Ap Owein, son of the Lord of Ynysdderne; and Richard Bowen (1761-1797) was a British naval commander. He died during the failed storming of Santa Cruz de Tenerife as he captained HMS Terpsichore. Because of the failure, a memorial to him to be erected in Westminster Abbey was denied. He appears in the...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boeing Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Boeing family to Ireland

Some of the Boeing family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boeing family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Boeing: Arthur Bowen who settled in Virginia in 1660; another Arthur Bowen settled in Montserrat in 1665; Bridget Bowen settled in Barbados in 1670; James Bowen settled in Maryland in 1774.


Contemporary Notables of the name Boeing (post 1700) +

  • William Boeing III (1953-2013), American son of William Boeing
  • William E. Boeing Jr. (1922-2015), American real estate developer, philanthropist, member of the Seattle Museum of Flight board of trustees, son of William Boeing
  • William Edward Boeing (1881-1956), American aviation pioneer from Detroit, Michigan who founded The Boeing Company in 1916; his father was Wilhelm Böing (1846–1890) from Hagen-Hohenlimburg, Germany


The Boeing 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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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