The name Bowder is rooted in the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a
sifter of meal. Other evidence suggests that the surname Bowder was established as an area called
Boulder. From there people acquired the surname. The name is also derived from the Old English word
bulder which means
boulder or
cobblestone. Alternatively the name could have been derived from the word
bolter which was a miller. Boulter's Lock and Boutler's Island are both located on the River Thames on the eastern side of Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Early Origins of the Bowder family
The surname Bowder was first found in
Yorkshire, where they held a
family seat from ancient times, long before the
Norman Conquest in 1066.
Early History of the Bowder family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowder research.
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1272, 1635, 1709, 1694, 1635, 1709, 1694, 1698, 1701, 1672, 1742, 1724, 1742 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Bowder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bowder Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early
Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bowder 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 Bowder include Boulter, Bolter, Boulder, Bolteir and others.
Early Notables of the Bowder family (pre 1700)
Distinguished members of the family include Edmund Boulter (c.1635-1709), a London merchant and politician, Sheriff of London (1694); Edmund Boulter
(c. 1635-1709), a London merchant and politician, Sheriff of London in...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bowder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bowder family to Ireland
Some of the Bowder 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 Bowder family to the New World and Oceana
Many 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 Bowder or a variant listed above:
Bowder Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Roger Bowder, who landed in Maryland in 1674 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Bowder Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Miss M Bowder, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907