A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowker family of England.
Reg. 9458 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bendlet betw. two eagles displ. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bowker Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bowker arms are recorded
The Bowker 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 Bowker 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 Bowker Family in England
The surname Bowker is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It is derived from the Middle English word "bouker," which referred to a person who worked as a bleacher of cloth or a fuller. These individuals were responsible for cleaning and thickening raw wool by pounding it in water, a process essential to the textile industry of the time. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bowker family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a significant hub for trade and craftsmanship, providing a logical environment for families associated with the cloth industry to thrive. As the family grew and moved throughout the region, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestors' contributions to the local economy and the daily life of northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boga
Old Norse term for a bow or archer.
This name
BowkerAn occupational surname for a maker of bows or a skilled archer.
also spelled
Bouker
Bowkar
Boker
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
