Show ContentsBowhay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Bowhay was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bowhay family lived in Staffordshire, where they were lords of the manor Colton.

Early Origins of the Bowhay family

The surname Bowhay was first found in Staffordshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Colton from very ancient times. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a survey initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England at Hastings in 1066, the village of Colton was held by Ascelin from tenant-in-chief Earl Roger. Conjecturally the Boughies are descended from this Norman noble. In similar speculations, some say there is a relationship between the early Bougheys and the great Lords Bohun, one of the signers of the Magna Carta and that the surname Boughey, Buffey, or Boffey was interchangeable with Bohun.

More recently, the parish of Forton in Staffordshire is home to a very distinguished branch of the this ancient family. "Aqualate Hall is a magnificent mansion, on the south side of a fine lake more than a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth, called Aqualate Meer; the house is surrounded by a spacious park and pleasure-grounds, adorned with plantations and some of the finest oak-trees in the county. This is the seat of Sir Thomas Fletcher Fenton Boughey, Bart., who is lord of the manor, and owner of nearly the whole parish." 1

Early History of the Bowhay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowhay research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1417, 1419, 1442, 1450, 1495 and 1590 are included under the topic Early Bowhay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bowhay Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Bowhay have been found, including Boughey, Buffie, Boffey, Buffey, Boughie, Boffie, Boghey and many more.

Early Notables of the Bowhay family

More information is included under the topic Early Bowhay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Bowhay migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bowhay were among those contributors:

Bowhay Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph P Bowhay, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 2
Bowhay Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Benjamin Bowhay, aged 48, originally from Plymouth, arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 3
  • Elizabeth Bowhay, aged 47, originally from Plymouth, arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 3
  • Benjamin F. Bowhay, aged 10, originally from Plymouth, arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 3
  • Henry Bowhay, aged 46, destined for Cleveland, Ohio, arrived in New York in 1912 aboard the ship "Philadelphia" from Southampton, England 3

Bowhay migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bowhay Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Frederick Bowhay, (b. 1815), aged 16, English brush maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1878 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Bowhay (post 1700) +

  • James Bowhay, American late director of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office for the University of Minnesota, eponym of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD)
  • Brian Bowhay, American lead programmer for Epyx, Inc., a video game developer and publisher active in the late 1970s and 1980s
  • Arleta Bowhay, Canadian model, Miss Rodeo Canada (2012)

HMS Royal Oak
  • William John Rowett Bowhay (1921-1939), British Midshipman (S) with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 5


The Bowhay 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: Nec quarere nec spernere honorem
Motto Translation: Neither to seek nor despise honor.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  5. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook