"Bomar" surname origins and distribution

According to the Dictionary of American Family Names (2nd ed. 2022).  Bomar is the Americanised form of the German / Swiss German surname of “Bommer”.

In New Zealand, Bomar or Bomer seems to be a frequent corruption of Bowmer

Australia

In Australia, Bomar/Bommer was an uncommon surname until the1950s when various immigration programmes from Europe began.  According to official Australian State government Public Birth/Death/Marriage (BDM) indexes, only one entry has been recorded during the period shown by these public indexes. 

This solitary entry confirms the death of Adrianus Bommer who died in Brisbane, QLD age 75 years, on the 30 Aug 1993.  He arrived in Melbourne on the 25 Jan 1950per the Volendam.  There are no entries for Bomar.

Unfortunately, only the Deaths index covers the period, ca1950 onwards that coincides with the commencement of immigration from Europe.  Both the Public Births and Marriages indexes being subject to, respectively generally, 100-year or 75-year curfews.

Some of the Bommer surnamed people known to have arrived into Australia include,

• Adrianus Bommer, Born 27 Apt 1918, a veteran of the Royal Dutch Marines.  Arrived at Melbourne per Volendam on 25 Jan 1950.  He made his way to Queensland where he married Doreen Marie Grice (?)(b 1 Jun 1921)  he died 30 Aug 1993.

• Johannes Bommer, born 17 Feb 1925, a Dutchman.  Arrived in Australia per Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt in 1952.

• Kurt Bommer, born 21 Dec 1930, and his wife Gisela Gertrude B., born 14 Mar 1932 arrived with their son, Hans Dieter, born 11 Feb1954(all German nationals) arrived in Melbourne per the Castel Felice on 25Jun 1958.  Gisela died in Adelaide, SA on the 25 Oct 2014

• Jan and Lucia Bommer, both German nationals arrived into Melbourne, per the Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt on 9 Nov 1959

• Heidi Bommer, born 21 Mar 1940, German national, arrived per Castel Felice in 1960

• Adrian and Jacoba Bommer and family, Orbost, Gippsland, Victoria

Some of the earliest instances I have of the Bomar surname in Australia/Australasia are,

• 1900, 21st Mar – Brisbane, QLD. Passenger list for Allinga for Cairns include a Mr. Bomar.  Ref: Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld.) Thu 22 Mar 1900  Page 2

• 1916, 29^th Feb – Mention of a Mr. T Bomar as a passenger per the s.s. Charon who sailed from Fremantle, W.A. to Singapore on that date.  Ref. The Daily News (Perth, WA) Tue 29 Feb 1916, Page 7

• 1916, 14^th Dec – Mr. W. Bomar listed as being a donor towards the Queensland Dublin Relief Fund. Ref. The Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW) Thu 14 Dec 1916 Page 51

• 1917 – New Zealand Death Reg. 1917/415 Mr. Henry Bomar, age 69 yrs.

• 1937, 22 Apr – Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Bomar announced the arrival of a baby boy born at the Union Memorial Hospital at Baltimore on April4, 1937. The young Bomar will be christened Edward jr. Mr. Bomar is well known in Manila where he was the manager of the Associated Press bureau for several years.  Ref. The Tribune(Philippines) Thu 22 Apr 1937 Page 5

North America