Bowen Family Coat of Arms

Gregory M. Bowen
Born in Baltimore, Maryland

Description | Traditional Bowen Arms | Other Bowen Arms | Names Similar to Bowen | Common Errors

Description of My Arms:

Many Bowen arms are recorded in different armories, from different locations in the United Kingdom. My personal coat of arms, is based on the first Bowen arms recorded in Burke's General Armory (described below).
Derivation - I have differenced the traditional arms in several ways:

The Shield:
The stag (or male deer) - The silver (or white) stag is replaced with an albino deer with a brown patch on the rump -- like one I saw on a Boy Scout camping trip, as a boy.
Additional charge (knot) - I have added what is called a "Bowen Knot" under the deer. It is a common charge, added to many arms. I selected the knot, not only for its name, but also for the symbolism (see the Bowen Family Mission). The colors selected for the knot are black (sable) and gold (or). These colors were selected for two reasons: 1) they are the colors of Lord Baltimore, and thus Baltimore, Maryland where I was born; 2) they are the colors of my high school, Parkville Senior High. The shape is also the command key on a Macintosh computer (related to my interest in software engineering, and preference for user-friendly computers [see dyslexia].
The Mantle and Wreath: I also am using Blue (azure) and Gold (or) for the mantle (the cloth around the arms) and the wreath (between the crest and the helmet). In the traditional blazon, the mantle and wreath are not mentioned, and therefore would be blue (azure) and silver (argent) [see Common Errors] . I specifically selected Blue and Gold, because they are also the colors of my mother's family arms, of West Virginia University (see Education at WVU), and because I think the colors look better.
The Crest: In the original crest, the arrow is "proper" (naturally colored). I have differenced it by using "a cedar shaft with white crown dip, and fletching of blue and gold." This is how my arrows are fletched (see Traditional Archery).
Motto Scroll: There is not a motto specified in the oldest Bowen arms, although mottos were added later to difference between Bowens. My motto is Doulos Christou meaning "servant of Christ" [from Romans 1:1 and other passages]. It is transliterated Greek, rather than Latin (since I don't know Latin).
The Helmet is not mentioned in any of the arms, but would change depending on rank (the default was used here). No Supporters or Compartments are mentioned in the early Bowen arms (none are included here, since they are normally reserved for "those of rank").

Traditional Bowen Arms

Blazon, Translation, Other Bowen Arms, Similar Names, Common Errors

My personal arms is derived from the traditional Bowen family arms. It is the first Bowen arms recorded in Burke's General Armory (therefore assumed to be the oldest). It is also recorded in the United States in Matthew's American Armory and Blue Book. It was registered to Richard Bowen, 1600-75 of Kittle Hill, Glamorganshire, Wales who came to New England in 1640 and became the Deputy to the Plymouth, Massachusetts General Court. It is interesting that the arms involves an arrow, since the Welch were famous longbowman.
My ancestor, John Bowen, (g-g-g-g-great grandfather) sailed from England to Plymouth, North Carolina and bought the land known as "Long Acre," as evidenced by a deed to in 1779 (I have not yet been able to trace back further). [My cousin has turned up some evidence that Richard Bowen, mentioned above, may be John Bowen's uncle.]
Blazon:

Shield:"Azure, a stag argent with an arrow stuck in the back and attired or." - Burkes, "Azure a stag argent, vulned in the back with an arrow, attired or" - Matthews
Crest:"A stag standing vulned in the back with an arrow proper." - Burkes, "A stag as in the arms proper" - Matthews
Translation:

Shield - A blue shield, with a silver male deer, with gold antlers, wounded in the back with a gold arrow.
Crest - A deer, as in the arms, but with natural coloration.

Other Bowen Arms

Sir Bowen from DragonHeart
- Shield: argent, a dragon's head erased at neck, or
  -- usually you don't put metal on metal, see Composition Rules
- Banner: argent, a dragon's head voided erased at neck, sable
- Universal Studios Trademark: or , bordure and a dragon's head, erased at neck, purpure
Bowen, or Ap Owein (Robert Ap John Ap Thomas Ap Owein), first bore the arms of Griffith Gower, Lord of Ynysdderne, South Wales). [Ap is Welch for "son of"]
- "Argent on a mount vert a stag lodged gules attired or, holding in his mouth a trefoil slipped of the second"
- My translation: On a silver shield, on a green hill, a male deer lying down which is red with antlers gold, holding in his mouth a cut [rather than uprooted] three-leaf plant which is the second color of the blazon [which is green].
- This blazon had no record of a crest or motto.
A friend, on a trip to Europe, brought back a Bowen Arms key ring for me. It had the shield as above, but with a crest (that can be found in other Bowen arms):
- "On a wreath of the colours, a hawk close proper."
- My translation: On the wreath (which is attached to the helmet) that bears the primary metal and tincture (color) of the arms (i.e., gold and red), is attached a hawk with its wings closed (not in flight or raised, etc.), naturally colored.
- A similar arms is below, but stag is not "lodged"
There are several other, completely different arms, from Ireland and other areas of Great Britain are recorded in various armories. Here are a couple other "Owen" and "Bowen" arms:

Names Similar to Bowen

Possible Derivations

ApOwein (son of Owein)
ApOwen (son of Owen)
Bauhahn
Baughan - this arms is similar to Bowen registered in London England
Bauhan
Bohan
Bohen
Bohun
Bowan
Bowghen, Bowhen, or Bowheyn
Bowhan
Bowman
Bowmen
Bown
Bowne or Bowyn
Owein
Owen - 36 Owen arms registered in the General Armory

Common Errors in Displaying the Bowen Arms:

Here are some errors that I have commonly seen from various "vendors" who sell coat of arms descriptions, pictures, and other items:

Wrong Mantle - I have seen several arms "vendors" sell the Bowen Arms with a blue and gold mantle (as in mine). However, if I understand the composition rules correctly, the mantle's outside is the primary color of the arms and the inside is the primary metal, the wreath should match (unless otherwise specified by the arms). The "primary" tinctures are defined be the first color and metal mentioned in the blazon. Therefore, based on the above blazon, the traditional arms should have a mantle of azure (blue) and argent (silver or white).
Two metal mantles - Mantles are typically a metal and a tincture, as noted above. Some vendors use gold and silver (or some other combination) as a common mantle, for all arms, to expedite mass production of arms.
Walking Stag - I have seen several "vendors" with the stag trippant (walking, usually depicted with one leg up). However, the default position, for any animal, is standing unless otherwise specified in the blazon.
Crest without a helmet or wreath - Crests are mounted on helmets (and should not "float in space"). Again, this is typically used to expedite printing or manufacturing.

Description | Traditional Bowen Arms | Other Bowen Arms | Names Similar to Bowen | Common Errors

�1994-2007 Gregory M. Bowen

Gregory M. Bowen Born in Baltimore, Maryland