Surname Boers - Meaning and Origin
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Boers: What does the surname Boers mean?
The last name Boers (sometimes spelled Boer) is of Dutch origin and is derived from the Dutch word “boer” meaning “farmer”, and the name was likely assumed by someone who lived in an agricultural or rural area.
This Dutch surname is commonly found in large parts of Europe, especially among the Dutch-speaking people in the Netherlands as well as in neighbouring countries such as Belgium, Germany and France. In South Africa it is also quite common among Dutch South Africans, commonly referred to as Afrikaners, as many of them trace their ancestry back to Dutch settlers.
The Boers were a major migration movement of Dutch settlers who ventured to South Africa in the late 1700s to find more land and freedom. This large emigration started after the Great Trek of the Boers, and today there is a large cultural and ethnic influence, as well as a large language derived from Dutch dialects that are still spoken in South Africa by Afrikaners.
The Boers remain a significant part of South African culture and history and continue to have an impact on the country and the continent of Africa. Despite coming from a humble agricultural background, the Boers were, and still are, extremely influential in South African politics, having founded two independent Boer republics in the 19th century which later formed part of the Union of South Africa. The Boers also played a big part in both World Wars and are still highly celebrated and respected in South Africa.
The last name Boers reflects a long and illustrious history that is still felt in the modern world, and even today it represents a powerful and proud cultural force.
Order DNA origin analysisBoers: Where does the name Boers come from?
The last name Boers is most common today in the Netherlands, the homeland of the Boer people. The Boers, a south-western African ethnic group originating from Dutch settlers, became prominent in the Cape Colony in the 17th century and later in the British colonies in the region.
The Boer people are Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch, German, and Huguenot settlers, as well as other South African British settlers. The Boers have a long history of independence, and during the late 19th century, the Boers of the Cape Colony successfully resisted British rule, establishing two independent Afrikaner republics known as the Orange Free State and the South African Republic.
Today, the last name Boers is most common in the Netherlands and among the South African Afrikaner people. According to Ancestry.com, the Boers surname is most prevalent in South Africa and also very common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.
In the Netherlands, the Boers surname is commonly found in South Holland, Friesland, and Utrecht. It is believed that there are over 8,000 people with the Boers surname in the Netherlands, which makes it one of the more common Dutch surnames. It is also common in Belgium and Germany, and it is estimated that there are around 400,000 people with the Boers surname worldwide.
Variations of the surname Boers
The surname Boers is a Dutch toponymic surname for people who originally lived in a particular area in Dutch known as "Boer". The variants of this surname vary from Boer to Boere to Boersma to Booer to Boerhaar to Boerema. Other derivatives of the same origin include Boor, Boorsma, Boorsman, Boorse and Boeres.
The earliest known records of the surname can be traced back to the 16th century in the village of Zuidlaardermeer in the Netherlands. The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Harmen Jouckes Boer, who was christened in Zuidlaardermeer, on 25th August 1613.
The spelling variants of Boers have shifted over time due to the adventurous nature of its bearers or as a result of migration from one country to another. Boer is the most frequent spelling amongst Dutch-speaking people, while the English-speaking countries tend to use the spelling version Boers. In Germany, the spelling variant Boeres is also quite common.
In more recent times, variants of the surname Boers include Boerma, Boerema, Boerse, Boersman, Boersma, Boerhaar, Booer, Boor, Boone and Boorse. A less common variant of the Boers surname is in Swedish, where the surname is spelled as Bäärs, Boërs or Boers.
In The United States, most families of Dutch origin adapted their surnames spelling to the convention of American culture. Boers is sometimes simplified to the form of Boor. Other common spellings of Boers in the United States are Bore, Boore, Boors, Boos, Bores and Borrs, in addition to Boers.
The Boers family name is found in countries all over the world, including The Netherlands, Germany, United States, Sweden, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The original spelling of the surname Boers still remains one of the most used in all countries.
Famous people with the name Boers
- Lauren Boers: an American lawyer and professor, widely noted for her work on corporate tax law and for teaching at the University of Michigan's Law School.
- Logan Boers: an American basketball player who currently plays for the UC San Diego Tritons.
- Haico Boersma: a Dutch computer scientist, specializing in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and information retrieval.
- Ryan Boers: an American music manager, most popularly associated with the careers of his son Hunter Hayes and sister Cassadee Pope.
- Nicole Boers: a Dutch television presenter, journalist, and radio host, best known for her work on the NPO radio program De Avondploeg.
- Jacolien Boers: a Dutch photographer and art director, most widely recognized for her work as co-creator and art director of the acclaimed Dutch television series, "Adam Zkt. Eva (Adam Looking for Eve)".
- Edwin Boers: a Dutch painter and sculptor, best known for his depictions of Dutch cityscapes and scenes of everyday life.
- Robert Boers: a Dutch politician and professor, having held the position of Mayor of Sittard-Geleen, and currently serving in the Senate for the Social Democratic Party.
- Bryan Boers: a Dutch football player, recently signed to the Alkmaar club in the Netherlands' premier football division, the Eredivisie.
- Neno Boers: a Dutch DJ, producer, and music composer, known for his popular remixes of classic tracks.