Bowhay One-Name Study

Bowhay
One-Name Study

Topics

About the Bowhay One-Name Study
Variants
Origin of the surname
Distribution of the name
Contact Details

About the Bowhay One-Name Study

The BOWHAY One-Name Study grew from my attempts to trace the parentage of my g.g.g.grandfather Thomas BOWHAY (c1812-1888). He was a tin miner who lived in Calstock, Cornwall. Unfortunately the enigma of his parentage remains, but my collection of BOWHAY and variant data (from England and overseas) has grown greatly. The One-Name Study has resulted in a comprehensive database of births, christenings, marriages, deaths and burials, as well as much information on American, Canadian and Australian families. I am happy to provide information to enquirers.

The photograph is of William James Blake Bowhay killed 13 April 1918.

Variants

Variants of the surname are BOWHEY, BOWEY, BAWHAY, BAWHEY, BEWHAY and BEWHEY.

Origin of the surname

The uncommon surname BOWHAY probably derives from a place named Bourehays in Devon, England, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. This probably became Bowhay Manor in the parish of Exminster. Bowhay Farm continues there, although the old manor house can no longer be seen as the farmhouse has been rebuilt.

Distribution of the name

From the 1500s BOWHAYs and variants are found in parish registers in Devon (Blackawton, Braunton, Crediton, Georgeham, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes) and Cornwall (St Dominick, Stoke Climsland). From the 1700s there has been spread throughout England (predominantly the south), but the main concentration remains in Devon and Cornwall.

Regarding the BOWEY surname, these can be divided into two separate groups. Approximately half (probably deriving from the BOWHAY name) are mainly in the south of England. The other half are mainly in Northumberland and Durham, and may derive from a northern stem, perhaps BOWIE, as no connection with the Devon and Cornwall BOWHAY and BOWEY stems has been found.

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mrs Joan M Gaskin
E-mail: