Map of England showing where the Bowditch arms are recorded
The Bowditch 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 Bowditch 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 Bowditch Family in England
The surname Bowditch is a locational name that originated in the county of Dorset in southwestern England. It is derived from the Old English words for a dwelling or a small enclosure situated near a ditch or a defensive earthwork. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in this region, with records confirming their presence in Dorset by 1620. During this period, many members of the family were involved in agriculture and local trade within the rural landscape of the West Country. As the family grew, some members eventually moved toward coastal towns, where they developed a strong connection to maritime life and navigation. This geographic history reflects the common pattern of English families who transitioned from inland farming communities to the seafaring traditions that defined the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boga-dic
A dweller by the ditch or trench.
This name
BowditchRefers to someone who lived near a specific watercourse, embankment, or boundary ditch.
also spelled
Bowditch
Bowdidge
Bouditch
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. 1901
Hanks, Patrick, and Hodges, Flavia. A Dictionary of Surnames. 1988
Mills, Anthony David. Dorset Place-Names. 1986
The National Archives, Kew. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. 1384–1858
Dorset History Centre. Parish Registers for the County of Dorset. 1538–1900
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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
