Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• chacea de Bouland, foresta de Bouland 1343,1423 MinAcct

• chace of Bow(e)land 1415 Pat 1652 ParlSurv

• the for(r)est of Bolland 1583,1650 WillY

• Bowland-Forest Upper and Lower 1822 Langd

Etymology

and many other spellings given under Bowland 112supra , from which the forest was named.Whitaker writing of the forest says 'though Bowland is principally enclosed, it is still [1812] ranged by herds of deer, under the jurisdiction of a master-forester, here in allusion to the name of the Forest called Bowbearer'. This office was long held by the Parkers of Browsholme. The forest is now in two divisions.