This is an English name of some antiquity and is an occupational surname for a maker or seller of bows, an important and respected profession in medieval England. The text of the Chester Mystery Play mentions the guilds and companies that took part, among them the "Boyeres, Flechers and Stringeres", the "Historical English Dictionary" quotes "Every boier make... two bowes of elme". The derivation is from Olde English pre 7th Century "boga", from "bugar" to bend, Middle English "bow, and "boiwyere". In the modern idiom the name has three spellings "Boyer", "Bowyera" and "Boayer". One Thomas Boyer married Elizabeth Carington in 1795 at St. Georges, Hanover Square. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailwardus le Boyiere. which was dated 1183, London Pipe Rolls. during the reign of King Henry II, the Builder of Churches 1154 - 1189. 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.

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