An English and Scottish word which means a person’s occupation of being an archer. The Old English terms 'boga' means ‘bow’ and 'mann' means ‘man.’ It can also mean someone who untangled wool with a bow.

The English various forms of spelling include: Bowmaker, Bowman, Bowmen and Boman.
In Germany it is Baumann, Bohmann and Bohlin. In The Netherlands it is Bouman. In France it is written Beauman.

Most Bowman families were farmers in 1880s.

In England, most Bowman families live in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire and Yorkshire. In the United States mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois during the first half of 20th century.

Famous: Isaiah Bowman (wrote 'New World', book on political geography), Scotty Bowman (professional Canadian hockey coach), Isaiah Bowman (Irish journalist), Joe Bowman (marksman and Wild West Show entertainer), Herbert Bowman (tennis player), Jonathan P. Bowman (Irish journalist), Christopher Bowman (figure skater) and Euday Louis Bowman (pianist and composer of ragtime music).