Surname Bowse - Meaning and Origin
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Bowse: What does the surname Bowse mean?
The last name Bowse is of English origin. It is derived from a word meaning “from the bend” or “curved.” This likely originated from someone with a home or land located near a mountain pass, bend in a river, or the curve of a road.
The Bowse surname can be found as early as the 13th century in England. During this time, last names were commonly derived from the names of localities or features of the landscape. This was especially true during this period of English history, as people moved around the country more frequently. People were often identified by their nearest town or location, so a person living near a bend or curve in the landscape might use Bowse as a surname.
In modern times, this surname is most commonly found in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England. It is also popular in countries of British descent, such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. The Bowse surname today is still largely associated with Britain and is a link back to its English origin.
Order DNA origin analysisBowse: Where does the name Bowse come from?
The surname Bowse is believed to have originated in England. It is most commonly found in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset in the southern part of the country.
The first recorded use of the surname in the United Kingdom can be found in Hampshire, England, where a William Bous was noted in 1332. Bous is thought to be the earliest known form of the Bowse surname.
Today, the Bowse surname is found throughout England, but also has spread to other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. It is also found in the Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, and the United States, as well as countries in continental Europe and South America.
DNA testing has revealed a link between some Bowse families and the English county of Surrey. There is also a close connection to the Devon port of Bideford, where many Bouse or Bowse families lived.
The Bowse surname can still be found in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, as well as across England and its former colonies. However, it is not as common today as it once was. This may be due to the low rate of survivors of the numerous wars in the 20th century, as well as the shifting population of the English regions.
Variations of the surname Bowse
The surname Bowse is of ancient Old English origins, and has different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the name Bowse include Bouse, Bows, Bowsse, Bowess and Bous. Spellings of the name Bowse include Bows, Bowss, Bowse, Bowzes and Bowses.
Surnames of the same origin as Bowse include Bohos, Bouse, Bous, Bows, Bowsee, Bowsell, Bowsely, Bowsher, Bowsie, Bowsy and Bowzie. A few less common variants include Bowsme, Baws, Bawse, Boose, Bowes and Bowsin.
The profession that gave rise to the original surname Bowse is thought to be associated with the making of bows for archery. The surname most likely originated from an Old English word “boga” meaning “bow maker” or “archer”.
Bowse was likely an occupational name, derived from the Middle English “boweser”, which described a worker that crafted or used archery supplies and weaponry.
Bowse can be found as a surname in records dating back to at least the 15th century. It is found most commonly in records from Somerset, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in England.
Today, the surname Bowse is relatively common in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world with a large number of British expatriates.
Famous people with the name Bowse
- Paul Bowse: a center forward for the English football team Fulham.
- Jim Browse: a former American football coach and executive in the National Football League.
- Willam Bowse: a producer, musician and songwriter best known for his work on the Grammy-winning album "The Marshall Mathers LP" by Eminem.
- Cook Keith Bowse: an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Davey Bowse: a retired Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Eric Bowse: an American pianist, arranger and composer known for his work with the likes of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock.
- Sean Bowse: an American professional soccer player who plays for Canadian SC Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact.
- Bob Bowse: a professional bass angler and commentator who competes in Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments.
- John Bowse: an Australian actor and theatre director most notable for his role as Geoffrey Chadwick in the hit television show "Home and Away".
- Chris Bowse: an American film director, producer and screenplay writer best known for the comedy "The Hangover" (2009).