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Bowhay Family History

Bowhay Surname Meaning

English (Devon and Cornwall): from Bowhay Farm in Exminster (Devon) or Bowhayes Farm in Culmstock (Devon).

The placenames derive from Middle English boue bogh ‘bow arch bend’ + wei ‘road way’ (Old English boga weg).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bowhay family from?

You can see how Bowhay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowhay family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Bowhay families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 110 Bowhay families living in Devon. This was about 57% of all the recorded Bowhay's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Bowhay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowhay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bowhay ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bowhay. 43% of Bowhay men worked as a General Labourer and 91% of Bowhay women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bowhay were Pensioner and Home Duties.

View Census Data for Bowhay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    43%
  • Farm Labourer
    29%
  • Pensioner
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    91%
  • Household Duties
    4%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Home Duties
    4%

What Bowhay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Bowhay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowhay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bowhay

Passenger Lists

There are 283 immigration records available for the last name Bowhay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bowhay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 386 military records available for the last name Bowhay. For the veterans among your Bowhay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowhay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bowhay family history

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What is the average Bowhay lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Bowhay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Bowhay in 1964 was 50, and 83 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bowhay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bowhay ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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