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(still under construction)

One of the oldest known origins of this name in Ireland is with the Boles of Cork. It is generally accepted that three Boles brothers, Thomas, Richard and William came to Ireland from England in the early 1600's. One early theory of their origin is that they were the children of Sir William Bowles of Clerkenwell. While it is unlikely they were actually his children they very possibly were related but the relationship has yet to be proven. This line is commonly referred to as the Bromley Bowles in the line of descent from the Bolles of Swineshead, Lincolnshire.

The 1659 Census of Landholders in Ireland lists only the following Boles/Bowles:

Townland of Kilfinnie, parish of Kilfaghny, East Carbury, co. Cork (26 landowners, 7 are English)

William Bowles, gent. along with William Morris, esq.

(this is near present Ross Carberry in SW co. Cork and is probably William Bowles before he settled at Kanturk.

Townland of Ballynalta, parish of Liscarroll, co. Cork (10 landowners, 3 are English)

Richard Bowles, Francis his sonne (this is Richard Boles of Cork and his son, Francis)

right next door is Daniel Crone of West Moige (Richard Bowles' sister, Joanna Bowles' husband)

Townland of Mogoalla, parish of Inishkarra, co. Cork (28 landowners, 6 are English)

Simon Bowles and Michael Dawley (this is now Inniscarra, about 6 miles W of Cork city; there are no further records of Simon)