Surname Bold - Meaning and Origin
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Bold: What does the surname Bold mean?
The surname Bold is derived from the Old English word 'bold', which means brave. This name was most likely given to individuals who exhibited great courage and strength. This was especially important in times of battle or for people who were in leadership positions.
The surname Bold is not uncommon, with variations such as Boalt, Bolte, and Bould appearing in family genealogies across England, Scotland, and Ireland. In some cases, immigrants to America have adopted a slightly altered spelling, such as Boulds, Bolds, Boulden, and Bolden.
Another distinct variation of the surname Bold is Boald. This is likely the result of a regional dialect or a mispronunciation over time, with Boald having been recorded in various locations across northern England and Scotland.
The Bold family motto was, “Fortis et Fidelis” which translates to “Strong and Faithful.” These characteristics are further evidence of the family’s courageous and loyal nature and their commitment to protecting their beliefs.
Whether from England, Scotland, Ireland, or even America, it’s clear that the surname Bold has deep roots in courage and strength. It has provided many individuals the strength to successfully face difficult times and continue to fight for what they believe in.
Order DNA origin analysisBold: Where does the name Bold come from?
The last name Bold is most commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries in the English-speaking world. It can also be found in Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and other Germanic countries.
In the United States, the last name Bold is most populated in California, with records indicating it was first used in the late 19th century and spread throughout the country from there. The states of Texas, North Carolina, and Alabama also have a fair share of Bold descendants.
In the United Kingdom, the last name Bold is most commonly found in Essex, followed closely by Kent and Suffolk. It is believed to have been a product of migrations that took place from the south of England to other parts of the United Kingdom over the centuries.
While records of Bold individuals have not yet been discovered in Finland, they can be found in Denmark, going back to at least 1601. It is possible that families may have carried their name from one country to another over the centuries.
In Sweden, the most common place for the Bold last name is Södermanland. Bold individuals can also be found living in Gothenburg, Örebro, and other parts of Sweden.
In Australia, Bold individuals have been discovered mainly in Victoria and New South Wales, where records indicate that early settlers from the United Kingdom were the first to carry the Bold last name.
Overall, the Bold last name is found in a variety of places around the world. It is a product of centuries of migrations and cultural exchanges between different countries.
Variations of the surname Bold
Bold is an English surname which is derived from the Old English word "Beald". Variants of the same name include Beld, Beald, Bolde, Bauld, Balder, Bald, Baulde, Boald, Beauld, Belds, Baulders, Bout, Bowld and Bould.
A nickname for Bold, common in medieval England, was Ley, although this might have come from other similar sounding surnames such as Lea, Lee, or Leigh. Bout, Bowld, and Bould may have been derived from the French term for rough.
In Scotland, Bold is usually spelled Boald, while Bould is also seen. Bold sometimes appears as a Scottish clan name, associated with lands near Bo’ness, in Linlithgowshire near to the Firth of Forth.
Spelling variations of the name Bold are found in many documents from when scribes recorded people’s names in different dialects of Old English, French, and Latin.
In the New World, Bold colonists brought the family name to the United States. People with the name settled in Pennsylvania, New York, and other states in the early 1700s.
The German spelling of the surname is Böld(t), and in Dutch it is spelled Boudt. In Sweden, the name is usually spelled Båld, while in Denmark, Boldt is the more common variation of the name.
The name Bold is found in Norway, where it originated as a habitation name (the name of a place where a family once lived). The Norwegian spelling is Bøldt or Boldt.
In Poland, Bold is spelled Bolds. In Hungary, it is Boldis, while in the Ukraine, it is Bolty. In Russia, spellings range from Boldina, Boldin, Boldao, and Boldanova.
The various spellings of the same family name makes it easy for researchers to trace many different family lines back to a common ancestor.
Famous people with the name Bold
- David Bold, a retired English footballer and manager
- Leroy Bold, former professional Canadian football player
- Osvaldo Bold, a retired Argentinian football striker
- John F. Gerber Bold, an American mathematician and computer scientist
- Charles Bold, a British painter, illustrator and graphic designer
- Eric Bold, American actor
- Joe Bold, an American tennis player
- Rolf Bold, a Swedish footballer
- Robert Bold, an Irish medieval historian
- Zoltán Bold, a Hungarian professional footballer