Bowie is a Scottish and Irish surname. The name can be derived from the Gaelic

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

''buidhe'', meaning "

yellow Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the ...

", " fair-haired". The surname can also be an Anglicised form of the Irish surname ''Ó Buadhaigh''; this surname means "descendant of ''Buadhach''" and is also rendered as Bogue and Boyce. The personal name ''Buadhach'' means "victorious". The surname ''Bowie'' is rendered in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

as ''Buidheach'' (masculine) and ''Bhuidheach'' (feminine), as well as ''Mac'IlleBhuidhe'' (masculine) and ''Nic'IlleBhuidhe'' (feminine). Early instances of the surname in Scotland, recorded in 1481, are: ''Boye'', ''Bowy'', and ''Boee''... A family of the surname, the Bowie family, was one of the

colonial families of Maryland The Colonial families of Maryland were the leading families in the Province of Maryland. Several also had interests in the Colony of Virginia, and the two are sometimes referred to as the Chesapeake Colonies. Founders and scions See also * ...

with John Bowie Sr. being the first Bowie in the colony.

People with the surname

* Alistair Bowie (born 1951), Scottish footballer * Andrew Bowie (disambiguation), list of people with the name * Angie Bowie (born 1949), American, former wife of David Bowie * Angus M. Bowie (born 1949), British classicist * Anthony Bowie (born 1963), American basketball player * Arturo Valenzuela Bowie (

Arturo Valenzuela Arturo A. Valenzuela (born 23 January 1944) is a Chilean-American academic who was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from November 5, 2009, until August 2011. His confirmation had been blocked by Senat ...

, born 1944), Chilean-American academic * Ash Bowie (born 1968), American musician *

Beth Mburu-Bowie Beth Mburu-Bowie known by her stage name HowAboutBeth is an English artist, songwriter and trustee. Early life Mburu-Bowie was born in Kenya and grew up in London. Her aunt, Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro, was an influential economist, writer and feminis ...

(born 1987), English musician *

Christopher Bowie Christopher Robert Bowie (born November 21, 1966) is a former freestyle swimmer, who competed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), o ...

(born 1966), Canadian swimmer *

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

(1947–2016), musician, artist, and actor *

Don Bowie (climber) Don Bowie (born December 9, 1969) is a professional high altitude climber from Alberta, Canada. Bowie’s climbing endeavors have taken him to remote regions of Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Africa, South America, Mexico, USA, and the high-arctic of ...

(born 1969), Canadian professional climber *

Don Bowie (footballer) Donald Shaw Bowie (born 14 April 1940) was a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers, Dumbarton Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Le ...

(born 1940), Scottish footballer * Eric A. Bowie (born 1936), Canadian judge *

Fiona Bowie Fiona Bowie is a Vancouver-based Canadians, Canadian Installation art, installation artist. She uses film, video, photography and sculpture, and makes "immersive environments". Life and work Fiona Bowie graduated from University of British Columbi ...

(born before 1990), Canadian artist *

George Washington Bowie George Washington Bowie (1827 – August 11, 1901), was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, commanding the 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry and being brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers. George Washington Bowie w ...

(18271901), American who served in the Union army during the Civil War * Gordon W. Bowie (before 19852012), American trombonist, composer and conductor * Henry Pike Bowie (18481921), American lawyer, artist, author, Japanologist and diplomat * Jac Bowie (born 1979), Australian burlesque producer *

James Bowie James Bowie ( ) ( – March 6, 1836) was a 19th-century American pioneer, slave smuggler and trader, and soldier who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He was among the Americans who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Stories of h ...

(17961836), 19th-century Texan revolutionary *

James Bowie (botanist) James Bowie (c. 1789–1869)''Botanical Exploration of Southern Africa'' - Gunn & Codd (Balkema, 1981) was an English botanist. Bowie was born in London, and entered the service of the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1810. In 1814 he was appointed botani ...

(17891869), English botanist * James Bowie (footballer) (18881972), Scottish footballer * Jamie Bowie (born 1989), British track and field athlete *

Jerome Bowie Jerome Bowie (died 1597) was a servant of James VI of Scotland as a sommelier, in charge of the purchase and serving of wine. Family backgound Jerome Bowie's family was from Stirling. His father is thought to have been Andrew Bowie, a gunner emp ...

(d. 1597), Scottish master of the royal wine cellar * Jim Bowie (baseball) (born 1965), Major League Baseball player *

Jimmy Bowie James Duncan Bowie (9 August 1924 – 4 August 2000) was a Scottish professional football inside forward who played in the Football League for Watford, Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford. After his retirement from football, he managed Trowbridge Tow ...

(19242000), Scottish footballer * Joanne W. Bowie (active 19892004), American politician from North Carolina * John Bowie (disambiguation), multiple people *

Joseph Bowie Joseph Bowie (born October 17, 1953) is an American jazz trombonist and vocalist. The brother of trumpeter Lester Bowie, Joseph is known for leading the jazz-punk group Defunkt and for membership in the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Career Bowi ...

(born 1953), American bandleader, trombonist, and founder of the jazz fusion band Defunkt * Larry Bowie (guard) (19392012), American Football guard * Larry Bowie (running back) (born 1973), American Football running back *

Les Bowie Les Bowie (November 10, 1913 – January 27, 1979) was a Canadian-born special effects artist working mainly in Britain. Bowie began his career as a matte painter in 1946. His work found places in classic films such as ''Great Expectations'', '' ...

(191379), Canadian-born special effects artist who worked mainly in Britain *

Lester Bowie Lester Bowie (October 11, 1941 – November 8, 1999) was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Biography Born in ...

(194199), American jazz musician *

Malcolm Bowie Malcolm McNaughtan Bowie FBA (; 5 May 1943 – 28 January 2007) was a British academic, and Master of Christ's College, Cambridge from 2002 to 2006. An acclaimed scholar of French literature, Bowie wrote several books on Marcel Proust, as well ...

(19432007), British academic * Micah Bowie (born 1974), American baseball player * Michael Bowie (born 1991), American Football player * Nate Bowie (born 1986), professional basketball player * Norman E. Bowie (born 1942), American academic *

Oden Bowie Oden Bowie (November 10, 1826December 4, 1894), a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 34th Governor of the State of Maryland in the United States from 1869 to 1872. Childhood He was born in 1826 at Fairview Plantation in Coll ...

(182694), American politician from Maryland *

Reginald Bowie Reginald Bowie (December 14, 1854 – November 5, 1926) was an American politician, businessman and engineer from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1892. Early life Reginald Bowie was born on December 14, 1854 ...

(1854–1926), American politician and businessman *

Rezin Bowie Rezin Pleasant Bowie ( ) (September 8, 1793 – January 17, 1841) was a planter, inventor, and mercenary. He also served three terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives. With his brother James "Jim" Bowie, Rezin Bowie smuggled slaves and ...

(17931841), American inventor and designer of the Bowie knife, politician in Louisiana * Richard Bowie (180781), American politician from Maryland * Robert Bowie (17501818), American politician from Maryland * Robert R. Bowie (19092013), American diplomat * Russell Bowie (18801959), Canadian ice hockey player *

Sam Bowie Samuel Paul Bowie (born March 17, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. A national sensation in high school and outstanding collegian and Olympic team member, Bowie's professional promise was undermined by repeated injuries ...

(born 1961), American basketball player * Sam Bowie (rugby league) (born 1989), Australian rugby league player * Stanley Bowie (19172008), Scottish geologist *

Sydney J. Bowie Sydney Johnston Bowie (July 26, 1865 – May 7, 1928) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama, nephew of Franklin Welsh Bowdon. Born in Talladega, Alabama, Bowie attended private schools, and was graduated from the law department of the Univ ...

(18651928), U.S. Representative from Alabama *

Thomas Fielder Bowie Thomas Fielder Bowie (April 7, 1808 – October 30, 1869) was an American politician who served in office from 1842 to 1859. Early life Born in Queen Anne, in Prince George's County, Maryland, Bowie attended Charlotte Hall Military Aca ...

(180869), American politician from Maryland * Todd Bowie (born 1965), American guitarist and technician *

Tori Bowie Frentorish "Tori" Bowie (born August 27, 1990) is an American track and field athlete, who primarily competes in the 100 m and the 200 m. She has a personal record of for the long jump, set in 2014. She is the 2017 100m world champion, a 2016 ...

(born 1990), American long jumper * Walter Bowie (17481810), American politician, delegate to the Annapolis Convention (1774–1776) *

Walter Russell Bowie Walter Russell Bowie (October 8, 1882 – April 23, 1969), was a priest, author, editor, educator, hymn writer, and lecturer in the Episcopal Church. Early and Family Life Walter Russell Bowie was born in Richmond, Virginia, actually the fourth ...

(18821969), American theologian * Captain William Bowie (1721after 1776), American politician, delegate to the Annapolis Convention (1774–1776) * William Bowie (agrarian) (17761826), American agrarian and delegate to the Maryland state convention to charter the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal * William Bowie (footballer) (18691934), Scottish footballer * William Bowie (engineer) (18721940), American geodetic engineer *

William Duckett Bowie William Duckett Bowie (7 October 1803 – 18 July 1873), was an American politician. The eldest child of William Bowie and Kitty Beanes Duckett, he was born at Fairview Plantation in Prince George's County, Maryland. Career and Wealth His m ...

(180373) American politician from Maryland

References

{{surname, Bowie Anglicised Irish-language surnames English-language surnames Scottish surnames Scottish Gaelic-language surnames