A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowdich family of England.
Reg. 9771 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a fesse wavy betw. three bows paleways gu. stringed or”
DorsetBowdich · Dorset, c. 1620
Where the Bowdich Arms Were Recorded
Dorset
Map of England showing where the Bowdich arms are recorded
The Bowdich arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bowdich arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dorset.
Origin & History of the Bowdich Family in England
The surname Bowdich is deeply rooted in the landscape of Dorset, England, where the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is considered a locative surname, meaning it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature known as Bowditch. In Old English, the name suggests a connection to a "bowed" or curved ditch, which may have described a boundary line or a defensive earthwork near the family’s original home. By 1620, members of the Bowdich family were active participants in the local community of Dorset, often appearing in parish registers and legal documents of the era. This period was a time of significant social movement, and the family’s presence in the region reflects the long-standing ties that many English families held to their ancestral lands before the great migrations to the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bold
Old English word meaning brave, confident, or courageous.
This name
BowdichA topographical name for someone living near a bold or prominent ridge.
also spelled
Bowditch
Bowdidge
Bouditch
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hanks, Patrick and Hodges, Flavia. A Dictionary of Surnames. 1988
Mills, Anthony David. A Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1991
Dorset History Centre, Parish Registers of Dorset
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
