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Bowley Family History

Bowley Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of several places called Bowley such as Bowley in Cadbury (Devon) a lost place called Bowley in Hailsham (Sussex) or Bowley in Blakemere (Herefordshire). The first is from Old English boga ‘bow river bend’ + lēah. The second is from the Old English personal name Buga + + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The third is named with Old English bula ‘bull’ perhaps a byname (see Bull ) + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Howley, Cowley, Bodley, Rowley, Boxley, Bosley, Bowlby, Bromley

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Where is the Bowley family from?

You can see how Bowley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bowley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 66 Bowley families living in Ontario. This was about 51% of all the recorded Bowley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Bowley families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Bowley

What did your Bowley ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Bowley | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1921

Farmer
47%
Laborer
11%
Clerk
11%
Labourer
11%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

Student
100%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bowley family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 47,000 census records available for the last name Bowley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Bowley
Passenger Lists
There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Bowley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Bowley immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bowley. For the veterans among your Bowley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Bowley military records

Census Records

There are 47,000 census records available for the last name Bowley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bowley

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Bowley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bowley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bowley. For the veterans among your Bowley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bowley family history

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What is the average Bowley lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Bowley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Bowley in 1945 was 58, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bowley

Browse profiles of historical people with the Bowley last name