A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowhan family of Ireland.
Reg. 4818 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. three garbs or, banded gu”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Bowhan Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Bowhan arms are recorded
The Bowhan arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Bowhan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Bowhan Family in Ireland
The surname Bowhan is a rare name with deep roots in the historical landscape of seventeenth-century Ireland. By 1645, records confirm that members of the family were established in Dublin, a city that served as a major center for trade and political activity during a time of significant social upheaval. The name likely evolved from older Gaelic or Hiberno-Norman naming traditions, reflecting the blending of cultures that defined the region during the mid-1600s. Families living in Dublin at this time often worked as merchants, craftsmen, or legal clerks, contributing to the growth of the city’s urban economy. While the name remains uncommon today, its presence in the capital during the middle of the seventeenth century suggests that the family was part of the intricate social fabric of early modern Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Buadhachán
Derived from the Irish word for victorious or triumphant.
This name
BowhanA diminutive form signifying a little victorious one or a descendant of the victor.
also spelled
Bowhen
Bohan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656
Simington, Robert C., The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656: County of Dublin, 1945
The National Archives (UK), State Papers Ireland, 1645
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wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
