Surname Bojar - Meaning and Origin
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Bojar: What does the surname Bojar mean?
The last name Bojar is of Slavic origin and is derived from the word "bojar," which means "lord; nobleman; warrior; hero." It is a popularly used surname in eastern Europe and Russia and denotes nobility and strength. The last name Bojar is known to have roots dating back to the 12th century, when its bearers were associated with high status and wealth.
The Bojar family was one of the several notable magnates that had great power and influence in the region in subsequent centuries. Its members became the backbone of the aristocracy in many Serbian and Bulgarian states. Subsequently, the Bojar family was also spread into other parts of Europe, and it is believed that the surname Bojar is still widely used in these regions.
Over the centuries, the prestigious Bojar reputation has survived assimilation and serves as a reminder of the dedication to power and strength. Its members have traditionally strived to live up to the standard of nobility and honor set by their ancestors. To this day, many people with this surname trace their genealogical history to certain prominent members of the Bojar family, and its legacy is still alive in eastern Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisBojar: Where does the name Bojar come from?
The last name Bojar is primarily found in Europe, specifically in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, and other Eastern European countries. Bojar is generally a surname derived from the given name Borejko, meaning “protecting ruler” in Slavic languages, and it has been in use in these areas for centuries.
In present-day Poland, the surname is most common in the southeastern provinces of Podkarpackie, Łódzkie, and Lubelskie. It is also found in neighboring countries such as Ukraine (especially near the cities of Lviv and Uzhhorod) and Belarus (particularly in the eastern Minsk region).
At the beginning of the 20th century, for example, many people of Bojar descent immigrated from these countries to the United States and the United Kingdom. According to 2020 estimates, Bojar is the 171st most common Polish surname, having 0.0033% of the population share it.
In short, the surname of Bojar is most frequently found in Eastern Europe and among European-Americans in the United States and the United Kingdom, but it is not particularly widespread.
Variations of the surname Bojar
The surname Bojar can have variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some variants of Bojar are Boghar, Bochar, and Bozhar, and the unique spelling of Bojhar.
The Bojar surname often appears as an anglicized version of its original spelling. Eastern European immigrants often changed their names when they moved to the United States to make them easier to spell and pronounce. Forms of the Bojar surname, such as Boghar, Bozhar, and Bohar, were created when immigrants anglicized their names by removing the "j" in the spelling.
The Bojar surname also has multiple spelling and surname variations in other languages and countries. In Russia, it is spelled Божар, while in Ukraine it’s spelled Божар, or in Latvia the variant is spelled Bōžars. In Jewish populations, the surname is changed to Bochar, or spelled as Bógare in Hungary.
In Polish, the spelling changes to Bożar, in Czech it is Bazar, and in Slovak the surname is spelled as Božár. In Croatia and Slovenia, Bojar is spelled as Bozarev. There are also several place names with the Bojar surname attached to them, such as Bozhar, Bozharkovo, Bozharka, and Bozharye.
These variants and surnames represent the many spellings of the same basic Bojar surname. In addition to the various spelling variations, there are also multiple surname variations that all trace their origin back to the Bojar family name. These include Bozharenko, Bozharev, Bozharov, Bozharsky, Bozhikov, and Bozydar.
Famous people with the name Bojar
- Bill Bojar: a noted filmmaker and director
- Eugen Bojar: actor and producer from Moldova
- Anelie Bojar: singer and songwriter from Romania
- David Bojar: a French-American photographer
- Bogdan Bojar: a Romanian tennis player
- Nicu Bojar: a renowned Romanian football goalkeeper
- Rei Bojar: a Ukrainian volleyball player
- Volodymyr Bojar: Ukrainian track and field athlete
- Victor Bojar: Moldavian actor
- Victorin Bojar: noted French actor