What Does the last name Bowman mean?

Question:

What Does the last name Bowman mean?

Okay, I'm black, and a lot of people say it's a german last name from the word Bauman. I've been trying to research my family history, and no knows where we came from! NOT EVEN MY GRANDMA! My grandpa passed away, and dad keeps saying I came from Africa! I don't think so, and then some other people say that every black person has INDIAN in them, and like uh...NO! please help me!!! please don't say go to ancestory.com, cuz u need a credit card, I'm 15!!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Ancestry has census records, which are a key part of research. The first thing to do is if Grandma knows the birth and death date of Grandpa, and HOPEFULLY, the names of his parents. If she also knows about when and where they died (his parents), that is also important. The names of their parents should be on the death certificates. How about if Grandpa has brother or sisters? cousins ?? Grandpa and his cousins will share the same grandparents. Someone might have old family pictures too.
At some point, you will locate one of the family who was alive in 1920.. which is the most recent census available. What you find on that record is the person, the immediate family, where they were born, AND birth place of parents. In other words, if grandpa happened to be 5 yrs old, living w/ mom and dad, it will show the birth places of dad's parents. Sometimes the parent is even living with the son and family. There have been census taken since 1790 until present, but more recent ones are confidential. And 1890 burned up. The tricky part is using other records to know what state or county you need to be working.
You are trying to work back to 1880... that one is fully transcribed online. In that, I hope we can pin down a black Bowman family that belongs to you. This is at www.familysearch.org (lds church site)..click on search, then census. Just for example.. I did a check, and find Samuel Bowman in Georgia. Samuel is age 42.. means he was born in Georgia in 1838.. and his parents also born in Georgia. What blew me away is Minnie Blackwell who is age 99, and supposed to be his mother (maybe his wife's mother) who also says she was born in Georgia. Do the math. While census records do have errors in them.. it is very possible to find the ancestor who actually came to the US, and about when. She does sound a bit old to be the mother.
Mostly, I want to give you an idea of WHAT IS USED to track back in records. You and I both realize that before 1870, the black families won't be found in the same records. It is a sad reality. However, I have found many white family researchers, who have family documents like wills or inventories that do give names and ages of the slaves involved. And most of these persons are willing to share the info.
Here is another place I like a lot... www.cyndislist.com which has both beginning research files, and connections to the info needed for African American research. Please stop by there.
I love nothing more than seeing someone young who really cares about finding their background. Maybe this info can get dad interested <smile>.