Show ContentsBowdridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Bowdridge Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Bowdridge

What does the name Bowdridge mean?

The ancient history of the Bowdridge name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided 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 Bowdridge family

The surname Bowdridge 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 Bowdridge family

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

Bowdridge Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bowdridge include Bowditch, Bowdich, Bowdidge and others.

Early Notables of the Bowdridge 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 Bowdridge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bowdridge family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bowdridge or a variant listed above: Walter Bowditch arrived in Philadelphia in 1878; James Bowdidge settled in New England in 1774.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.

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