Map of England showing where the Bowdoin arms are recorded
The Bowdoin arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Bowdoin 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 England.
Origin & History of the Bowdoin Family in England
The Bowdoin family name traces its roots to the French Huguenots, who were Protestants fleeing religious persecution in France during the seventeenth century. The name is an anglicized version of the French surname Baudouin, which carries a history tied to the region of La Rochelle. By 1620, members of the family were established in York, England, as they sought refuge from the political and religious instability of their homeland. These early settlers were part of a larger movement of skilled individuals who brought their trades and traditions to new lands. Over time, the family name evolved in spelling as they integrated into English-speaking communities. This transition reflects the broader experience of many displaced families who moved across borders to build new lives while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baudouin
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold friend or brave protector.
This name
BowdoinAn English locational surname originating from the French personal name meaning bold friend.
also spelled
Bowden
Bawdon
Baudon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, 1995
Baird, Charles W., History of the Huguenot Emigration to America, 1885
Maine Historical Society, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, 1869
York Minster Archives, Parish Registers of York, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
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