This interesting name is a cognate of "Bouvier" or "Bouverie", found in Catalan which is a French topographical name for someone who lived by a cowshed, or it may be an occupational name for a herdsman both from the Old French "bouvier", a stable for oxen. In the late 16th Century French and Flemish Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution introduced the surname into England, as did another wave of immigrants mainly French, at the end of the 17th Century. Richard Bover married Katherin Wager at Earls Colne, Essex on May 27th 1560, while also on September 1st Alice, daughter of Richard Bover was christened. John, son of John and Anne Bover was christened at St. Anne Blackfriars, London in 1592, while on September 22nd 1706, Isacc, son of Charle and Anne Bouuar, French Huguenots, was christened at Threadneedle Street, London, as was Abraham Bouvar on May 28th 1710. At Chelmsford, Essex, John Buiver married Fortune Long on February 8th 1727. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Bover, who married Alys Gwyn, which was dated November 24th 1544, at St. Michael Bassishaw, London, during the reign of King Henry V111, "Good King Hal", 1507 - 1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.