The Earliest Bowles in England

The Bowles name goes back to far before the earliest records available so it will probably never be possible to establish all the the origins of the family name in England.

For various theories about the origin of the name please see The Origin of The Bowles Name.

The earliest documented line that we have is the long accepted line of The Bolles of Swineshead in Lincolnshire with their roots in the Normans who arrived in England in 1066. More recently we have learned of the Boles of Kent with references independent of the Lincoln line going back to the early 1200's. It's not known yet whether these Boles were all members of the same branch or whether they also have Norman or Anglo-Saxon roots. Several of the earliest references point to Anglo-Saxon origins for many of them while others indicate a strong association with the Norman rulers.

Other Bowles lines in England with long and significant histories include:

The Bolles of Haugh

This branch includes Sir John Bolle, the Hero of Cadiz, who later held important positions in Ireland and the ghost of his Mistress, The Green Lady of Thorpe Hall.

The Bolles of Gosberton

This branch includes the Lord Mayor of London and leads to The Bowles of Chatham, Kent which includes a Secretary of the Navy, a Lieutenant General and John Bowles of Eltham, the founder of the first factory in England to make looking glass plates and "Crown" window glass.

The Bolles of Osberton

This branch leads to the merchant family of Deale, Kent and from 1614 the settlement of the New England colony of Wells, Maine.

The Bowles of Bromley

This branch includes the suppliers of tents and pavilions to the Rulers of England from Elizabeth I to James II.

The Bowles of Myddelton House, Enfield

This branch includes three generations of famous 17th and 18th century London publishers, the "Father" of the English Country Garden and leads to the Parker-Bowles of today.

For all the other Bowles lines in England please see the list of The Bowles in England by County