A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowley family of England.
Reg. 6274 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 mullets or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bowley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bowley arms are recorded
The Bowley 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 Bowley 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 Bowley Family in England
The surname Bowley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a woodland clearing. The term is derived from the Old English words for a bow or a curved shape and a meadow or clearing. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bowley family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, the family likely participated in the bustling trade and civic life of the city, which served as a major northern hub for commerce and religion. As the name spread through the region, it evolved in spelling and pronunciation, reflecting the local dialects of the people who lived there. These early ancestors were part of the foundational population that helped shape the social and economic character of Yorkshire during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bolla
Old Norse nickname meaning a round or swollen object.
This name
BowleyA topographical or habitational name referring to a clearing or meadow belonging to someone named Bolla.
also spelled
Bowly
Boley
Bolley
Related arms
Bolleyvariant 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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
