This interesting name is a late medieval transposition from the Olde English "Bogta", through to the job descriptive "Bowyer" (as in Henry le Bowyere, 1296, Sussex) and meaning a "Maker of Bows and Arrows". The name development has been traced mainly through the London Area and includes Rowlande Bowarde (1567, London), and then to Boward (1608, London) with the development Bowart first appearing as shown, whilst Bouart is recorded in 1695, although this variant does not seem to have survived. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anne Bowart (Baptised). which was dated 1655, St.Dunstans, Stepney, London. during the reign of Oliver Cromwell, The Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, 1649 - 1658. 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.