Bowater is an English surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Alexis Bowater British television journalist and presenter Edward Bowater (1787–1861), British Army general Frank Bowater (1866–1947), English politician George Bowater (1911–1966), English footballer Vansittart Bowater (1862–1938), English politician William Vansittart Bowater (1838–1907), British businessman