A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowler family of England.
Reg. 0137 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. two birds in pale sa. beaked and legged gu”
WiltsBowler · Wilts, c. 1620
Where the Bowler Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Bowler arms are recorded
The Bowler arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Bowler 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Bowler Family in England
The surname Bowler is classified as an occupational name, which means it originated from the specific trade or craft practiced by early family members. Historically, the name likely referred to a person who made or sold bowls, or perhaps someone who worked as a maker of wooden vessels. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Wiltshire. During this period, the Bowlers were part of the rural working class, often involved in local agriculture or specialized craft production within the English countryside. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social and economic life of Wiltshire, contributing to the local community through their trade skills and consistent presence in parish registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bolla
Old English word for a bowl or a rounded vessel.
This name
BowlerAn occupational name for a maker or seller of wooden bowls or dishes.
also spelled
Bowlar
Boller
Boweler
Related arms
Boalervariant spelling
Bollervariant spelling
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
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
