The ancient Scottish name Bowmacer was first used by someone who worked as a person who made bows, a bowyer. "This surname is derived from an
occupation. 'the bowmaker,' a bowyer."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)Early Origins of the Bowmacer family
The surname Bowmacer 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Bowmacer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowmacer research.
Another 184 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1343, 1376, 1395, 1422, 1557, 1558, 1385, 1449, 1417, 1449, 1539, 1648 and 1563 are included under the topic Early Bowmacer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bowmacer Spelling Variations
In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of
spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Bowmacer has appeared as Bowmaker, Bowmakker, Boumaker, Bomaker, Bowmacre and many more.
Early Notables of the Bowmacer family (pre 1700)
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 Bowmacer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bowmacer family to Ireland
Some of the Bowmacer 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 Bowmacer family to the New World and Oceana
The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American
War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and
Clan societies in North America. Among them: John Boumaker who settled in Philadelphia in 1753.
The Bowmacer 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.