Probably from the sign of an inn, as "John at the Bowl," i. e., at the sign of the bowl. Boel, local, a town in South Jutland, Denmark. Boel, Dutch, an estate, also one who keeps a mistress.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

BOWLES. Domesd. presents us with two tenants in chief called Bollo and Bollo, the former in Hants, and the latter in Dorset. Bouelles is the name of a place near Neufchatel in Normand\ Ferguson derives it, and several similar names, from the 0. Norse baidi, a bull, but it is probably local, as De Bolle is found in H.ll.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.