Surname Boey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Boey: What does the surname Boey mean?
The surname Boey is of Chinese origin, a romanized version of the Mandarin Chinese surname "Bu", which means "Supplement" or "Add". It is a relatively uncommon name. Like many Chinese surnames, it has its history rooted in ancient China, where surnames were often given based on job titles, geographical features, or personal characteristics. The variations in the romanized spelling, such as Boey, can be attributed to the transcription from Mandarin to English, which can vary due to different dialects and pronunciations. Please note that meanings of surnames can differ in different cultures and languages. Despite this general origin and meaning, the specific significance of the surname Boey may vary among individuals and families due to personal, historical, or anecdotal meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisBoey: Where does the name Boey come from?
The surname Boey originates from Europe, predominantly from the Netherlands and Belgium, where it evolved from the personal name Boi or Boy. This name has Germanic origins, deriving from the Germanic word "bue", meaning a friend or relative. The surname may also be a patronymic, pertaining to "son of Boi".
Another interpretation suggests that Boey might be a variant of the English and Scottish surname Bowie, itself a variant of the Irish name O’Buadhaigh, meaning 'victorious'.
Today, the surname Boey is not exceedingly common. Nevertheless, it is still found within the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as among emigrant families in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The diffusion of the surname in these countries corresponds to historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname Boey
The surname Boey is of Chinese origin, typically from the country of Malaysia. Variations of the surname occur due to regional differences, pronunciation, and even cantonese-mandarin translations. Some of these variations include:
1. Bó: This name is a simplification of Boey, predominantly used in mainland China.
2. Bai: Another common variant, which is a Mandarin translation of the original Cantonese surname.
3. Pei: This version is often used in Mandarin-speaking communities.
Sometimes, these spellings are combined with other characters to form longer surnames.
Another common practice in Chinese communities is to include the generational name as part of the surname. This often complicates the variations in spelling for the surname Boey. For instance, a person might have the surname Boey Giam, where "Giam" is the generational name.
Occasionally, Chinese individuals who move to English-speaking countries might choose to translate their surname to its English equivalent. In the case of Boey, this could be "White" since the character 白 (Bai) means white in English.
The exact origin of individual family names can only be traced accurately by conducting genealogical research. It is important to recognize that these variations and spellings are not exact substitutes or identical in meaning. Each spelling has its unique pronunciation, cultural and regional relevance.
Famous people with the name Boey
- Jean Paul Boey: Singaporean Actor and Host
- Nick Boey: Dutch Singer
- Brett Boey: Australian Olympic Rower
- Jasper Boey: Indonesian Comic Book Writer
- Eelynn Boey: Malaysian Voice Actress and YouTuber
- Allan Boey: Singaporean Singer and Songwriter
- Amara Boey: Singaporean Singer and YouTube Vlogger
- Narelle Kheng Boey: Singaporean Actress and Singer
- Victor Boey: Malaysian Badminton Player
- David Boey: Singaporean Filmmaker