Surname Bowling - Meaning and Origin

Unexpected Journey: Tracing the Beat of my Family's Heart from Western Europe to England

I received my iGENEA DNA test results, eagerly expecting to confirm my paternal English ancestry. However, I was taken aback when the results described a different tale. The paper held in my hand bore marks of my ancestors' rich, Western European heritage and their adventurous journeys across continents.

V. Bowling

Bowling: What does the surname Bowling mean?

The last name Bowling is an English occupational surname for someone who was involved with the sport or occupation of bowling. It derives from the Middle English word ‘bolle’ meaning ‘to bowl’ which is itself derived from Old English ‘bolla’. Occupational surnames were commonly used to identify and distinguish people by their jobs. Bowlers were employed at inns and alehouses throughout England to play the popular game of bowling. The game originated in the Middle Ages and is traditionally said to have been invented by a British monk who created the game as a way to practice his archery skills. The game was played on a grassy bowling green, a playing field with nine arranged pins.

The surname Bowling is on record in the 14th century and the earliest recorded spelling is William of Bowlynge in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Essex. Several variants of the surname are found, including Bowling, Boling, Bolin, Bolingey and Boulings. In modern times Bowling has spread across English-speaking countries and is now regarded as a common surname. Today, the name is still associated with its occupational roots, but many people with Bowling as their surname are not involved with the ancient practice of the game of bowling.

Bowling: Where does the name Bowling come from?

The last name Bowling is believed to have originated in England, Ireland, and Wales. It is a habitational surname derived from various towns, hamlets, and villages which have a name beginning with "bow," such as "Bowling", and other places of which the names have derived from the Old English word "bolla," meaning "bow." The families of Bowling can trace their ancestries back to these locations in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Today, the last name Bowling is quite common in the United States, especially in former English colonies such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. According to the 2000 US Census, Bowling was the 532nd most common surname out of 88,799 total surnames in the census. Many families have maintained their surname across the generations, while others may have made slight variations, such as Bolling or Bowlin. There are also many immigrated families from other countries, especially the United Kingdom, who carry the last name.

The last name Bowling is also common in other English-speaking countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the UK, there are about 3,600 people with the last name Bowling, mostly concentrated in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Durham. In Scotland, there are a little over 1,000 people with the surname.

Variations of the surname Bowling

The Bowling surname can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Bowlin, Bollin, Bouling, Boulton, Bowlington, and Bowlan. The endpoint "-ing" and the prefix "Bow-" is present in all the spellings, so the name is generally understood to refer to those who either live or work with a bow, such as an archer or fletcher. The name is also connected to the tenth-century Viking word, “boga,” which means to bend or shape.

Historically, many Bowling families have changed their name spelling or adopted variations over time. In the 1800s, the spelling was often changed when documented in official documents such as court records or military rolls. This could be due to errors at the time of transcription or due to regional accent where the name originates from.

The Bowling name can also be found in many variants today, especially in and around Britain. The surname is an Anglo-Saxon name, so variations can be found in the Norris, Owens, Browell, and Bowers families. The name has also been adopted into the Welsh language as Bwling.

Today, the Bowling surname is fairly popular in the southern and eastern parts of England. It is also common in the United States, especially in the states of Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The surname is also found widely in countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

Famous people with the name Bowling

• Luke Bowling: American professional baseball player.
• Elbert Bowling: American Major League Baseball infielder.
• Wallace Bowling: former guard for the University of Kansas men's basketball team.
• Max Bowling: American former professional basketball player
• G. B. Bowling: American former professional baseball player.
• Natalie Bowling: American singer-songwriter and dancer.
• Henry Clay Bowling: member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa.
• E. A. Bowling: former Tennessee House of Representatives member.
• Tim Bowling: American novelist, poet and literary critic.
• Lawn Bowling: professional hip hop-soul-R&B singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Bowlin

Comments or additions to the name "Bowling"

17.02.2024
Beth bowling worked on tv show blue bloods