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Bowlay Family History

Bowlay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Bowley, Bowlby, Boulay, Bowlan, Bowhay, Bowman, Cowley, Howley, Bolla

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bowlay family from?

You can see how Bowlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowlay family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Bowlay families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 5 Bowlay families living in Nottinghamshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Bowlay's in United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire had the highest population of Bowlay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowlay 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 Bowlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 266 census records available for the last name Bowlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bowlay

Passenger Lists

There are 47 immigration records available for the last name Bowlay. 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 Bowlay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 36 military records available for the last name Bowlay. For the veterans among your Bowlay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowlay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bowlay family history

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What is the average Bowlay lifespan?

Average Bowlay life expectancy in 1965 was 68 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 70.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bowlay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bowlay 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bowlay family tree

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