Surname Boess - Meaning and Origin
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Boess: What does the surname Boess mean?
The last name Boess is a German surname derived from the German word “Boß,” which can mean both “master” or “boss.” Although it is unclear when the surname was adopted, it first appears in records from the 15th century.
The surname was likely given to someone who held an important position in their society. It could have been bestowed on the leader of a trade guild or a community council. Alternatively, it could refer to someone’s social standing within a family. Boess is also found as a nickname in Germany and Switzerland, indicating someone who is good-humored, authoritative, and, in some cases, eccentric.
In time, Boess was taken on as a surname. In Germany, it is concentrated in Silesia (present-day Poland, south of Berlin) and, to a lesser extent, in Bavaria and Thuringia. It is more widespread throughout German-speaking countries in Europe, and also has been adopted elsewhere. In the United States, people with the last name Boess primarily live in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The German-language surname Boess typically conjures up ideas of strong leadership and high social standing, but its exact origins are unknown. Whatever its beginnings, this surname has proved its staying power for centuries, and continues to be passed down to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisBoess: Where does the name Boess come from?
The last name Boess is of German origin, and is most commonly found in Central Europe today. Specifically, the Boess surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, records indicate that a village known as Boesser in the Harz district was home to many of the earlier bearers of the Boess surname. Additionally, the Boess surname can be found in other parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and parts of the United Kingdom. In the United States, the Boess surname is most commonly found in the Midwest and West, primarily in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and California.
Outside of Europe, the Boess name is still quite common in the United States, particularly among families with European heritage, particularly German heritage. Immigration records indicate that the Boess surname first arrived in the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s, although it did not become particularly common in the U.S. until after the Second World War, when many Europeans immigrated to the United States. The Boess surname is also still commonly found in New Zealand and South America.
More broadly, Boess can be found around the world. The Boess name is most common in areas that were home to successful tradespeople and merchants, and where a large population had access to economic opportunity. It is also common among those who aim to preserve their heritage and who continue to embrace traditions associated with their last name.
Variations of the surname Boess
The surname Boess is a German surname, thought to have originated in the region of Westphalia, in the country of Germany. It is spelled in many variations, such as Boese, Boesser, Boesing, Boessinger, Boessner, Boeß, and Boeßling. It is also known to derive from the Middle High German word 'bove', meaning 'bow', and that suggests that those bearing the name could have been bowmakers, or people who were well-accustomed with the use of bows.
Boess is also known to be a toponymic surname, which means it was derived from a place name. It is derived from the places in Germany known as ‘Bovessen’ and ‘Boesen’, as well as from various communities in the country.
An alternate spelling for Boess is Boese, and two of the variants are Boesser and Boesing. Boesser is believed to be derived from the place of ‘Bösinghausen’, located near a wooded area and near a small tributary called ‘Der Ecker’, to the south-east of the city of Dortmund.
The other variants, including Boessinger, Boessner, Boeß, and Boeßling, can be traced to the several villages in Germany, and its regions such as Westphalia, in the country of Germany. The meaning of the surname in general is thought to be ‘dove’ or ‘peaceful one’, making it a fitting name for people of such religious backgrounds in the country.
It is important to note that, while this surname is German, it has spread around the world and can be found in a variety of forms in many countries, including the United States.
Famous people with the name Boess
- Eric Boess, a French actor and comedian.
- Marcel Boess, a French mathematician.
- Konrad Boess, a German theologian and philosopher.
- Fenimore Boess, an American music producer and composer.
- Dirk Boess, a German environmentalist and journalist.
- Leopold Boess, an Austrian painter.
- August Boess, a German Botanist.
- Wolfgang Boess, a German art historian and author.
- Ralf Boess, a German musician and composer.
- Annegret Boess, a German physicist and environmentalist.