Bowdish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bowdish

What does the name Bowdish mean?

The name Bowdish is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the settlement of Bowditch, an estate in the county of Dorset. 1 The place name literally means "arched bridge ditch." 2

Early Origins of the Bowdish family

The surname Bowdish was first found in Dorset, in southern England, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

"The family of Bowditch anciently held in part a manor and farm in Chardstock, which bore their name. John Bowditch, of Chardstock, gent., had property there in the time of Elizabeth I." 3

Early History of the Bowdish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowdish research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1554, 1769, 1773, 1791, 1824 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Bowdish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowdish Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Bowdish were recorded, including Bowditch, Bowdich, Bowdidge and others.

Early Notables of the Bowdish family

Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838), American mathematician and author of "Bowditch's American Practical Navigator," an encyclopedia of navigation. Thomas Bowdich (1791-1824), was an African traveller, born at Bristol 20 June 1791. His...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bowdish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bowdish family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Bowdish family emigrate to North America: Walter Bowditch arrived in Philadelphia in 1878; James Bowdidge settled in New England in 1774.

Contemporary Notables of the name Bowdish (post 1700) +

Deanna Bowdish, American artist and gallery owner
Chuck Bowdish, American artist
Lynea Bowdish, American author
John Bowdish, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Montgomery County, 1843 4
Isaac W. Bowdish, American politician, U.S. Consul in Constantinople, 1856-57 5
Gamaliel Bowdish, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Montgomery County, 1847 5
Cyrus G. Bowdish, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from St. Joseph District, 1944 5
Dawn Bowdish, Canadian Assistant Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at the University of British Columbia
John Bowdish Dutcher (1830-1911), American farmer, businessman, banker and politician, Member of the New York State Assembly (1861-1862), New York State Senator (1864-1865)

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html