English and Scottish: occupational name for an archer, Middle
English bow(e)man, bouman (from Old English boga
‘bow’ + mann ‘man’). This word was distinguished from
Bowyer, which denoted a maker or seller of the articles. It is
possible that in some cases the surname referred originally to someone
who untangled wool with a bow. This process, which originated in
Italy, became quite common in England in the 13th century. The
vibrating string of a bow was worked into a pile of tangled wool,
where its rapid vibrations separated the fibers, while still leaving
them sufficiently entwined to produce a fine, soft yarn when spun.Americanized form of German Baumann (see
Bauer) or the Dutch cognate Bouman.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
2,120,354
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