It bears repeating here that the renowned Bowes family from Durham, with many historically notable members including the Queen Mother's Bowes ancestors, does not necessarily share the origin of many English Bowes, which appears to be around Helmsley, England. Rather, this Bowes line is believed to have taken it's name from the village or parish of Bowes. If you are Bowes from England, without documentary or DNA support, you cannot be sure you are related to this family. So far no one has been able to substantiate a connection, which would take considerable work to do.
So it's a bit misleading to cover the "Durham Bowes" under English Origins in this website, other than to suggest that so far no one can prove they are related to them, or that the "Durham Bowes" even descend from the original founding Bowes apparently from Helmsley Parish. But since they are a relatively prominent family historically, I include some basic information here about the "Durham Bowes". These pages will serve mainly as a general guide to the branches as I come across information on them. Others are doing more detailed research and I will link to them.
Robert Surtees' The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham in
four volumes is considered the authority on the family's early
pedigree. Surtees is an esteemed historian and antiquarian who relied on
original records. His work is relied on by Bowes Museum in Durham.
A rather comprehensive website covering the various branches is The Bowes Family.