A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bowling family of England.
Reg. 9385 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. an escutcheon erm. within an orle of eight martlets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bowling Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bowling arms are recorded
The Bowling 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 Bowling 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 Bowling Family in England
The surname Bowling is primarily of English origin and is classified as a locational name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, where they likely lived as tradespeople or local landowners. The name itself is thought to have originated from the township of Bowling, which is located near Bradford in West Yorkshire. In Old English, the name likely referred to a meadow or a clearing associated with a person named Bōla. As people began to move from these small rural settlements into larger urban centers like York during the early seventeenth century, they often kept the name of their home village to identify themselves to their new neighbors. This practice helped families maintain a connection to their ancestral roots while they built new lives in the growing cities of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bolla
Old Norse name meaning a round or swollen object.
This name
BowlingRefers to a person living near a meadow or a hill shaped like a bowl.
also spelled
Bowlin
Bolling
Bolin
Related arms
Bollingsame arms
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
York City Archives, York Freemen's Register, 1272–1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
