Show ContentsBomakker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Bomakker. It is a name for someone who works as a person who made bows, a bowyer. "This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the bowmaker,' a bowyer." 1

Early Origins of the Bomakker family

The surname Bomakker 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 Bomakker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bomakker 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 Bomakker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bomakker 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. Bomakker has been spelled Bowmaker, Bowmakker, Boumaker, Bomaker, Bowmacre and many more.

Early Notables of the Bomakker 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...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bomakker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bomakker family to Ireland

Some of the Bomakker 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.

Migration of the Bomakker family

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: John Boumaker who settled in Philadelphia in 1753.



The Bomakker 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.


  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. 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)


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