The chronicles of Scottish history reveal that the first people to use the name Bowra were the Strathclyde-
Britons. It was a name for a maker of bows. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word
bower, which means
bow maker.
Early Origins of the Bowra family
The surname Bowra 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.
Early History of the Bowra family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bowra research.
Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1317, 1387, 1489, 1479, 1615, 1671 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Bowra History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bowra Spelling Variations
Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of
spelling variations in Scottish names. Bowra has been spelled Bower, Bowre, Bowyr, Bowers, Bowyer, Beauer and many more.
Early Notables of the Bowra family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Bowra Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bowra family to Ireland
Some of the Bowra 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 Bowra family to the New World and Oceana
In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in
Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American
War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them: Henry Bower who settled in Virginia in 1637; Robert Bower settled in Virginia in 1698; John Bowers settled in Virginia in 1663; Jonas Bowers settled in Virginia in 1637.
The Bowra 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.
Bowra Family Crest Products
See Also