Surname Bolger - Meaning and Origin

Bolger: What does the surname Bolger mean?

The last name Bolger is of Irish origin and is a variant of the Gaelic name Ó Bóalachair. It is derived from the Old Irish word Bóalachar, which means a 'Scholar of Poverty'. This name describes a member of the gentry in medieval Ireland who accepted little or no material wealth in return for their service.

The Bolger family first appears in the historical record in the northern province of Ulster. The family likely first settled in the area in the thirteenth century, becoming prominent landowners in the succeeding centuries.

The Bolger name can also be found in records dating back to the Elizabethan period. This suggests that the family had Royal patronage at some point and may have received land grants and other favors for their loyalty and service.

The name Bolger is still widely distributed throughout Ireland today and many of its bearers can trace their roots back to the ancient clan in the north. The name is a testament to the family’s place in Irish history and is still a reminder of the proud tradition of chivalry in Irish society.

Bolger: Where does the name Bolger come from?

The last name Bolger is most commonly found in Ireland, though there is a presence throughout the rest of the English-speaking world. In Ireland, the name is concentrated mostly in Counties Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow, where in the mid 19th century its estimated prevalence was around the 1 in 200 mark; it is still most prevalent in these areas today. The largest concentration of people with the last name Bolger is found in the United States, mainly in larger cities such as New York, Boston and Baltimore. These cities likely trace their Bolger populations to immigrants from the Irish counties of Wexford and Kilkenny. Bolger is also found in Australia, again likely a result of 19th-century Irish immigration. There is also evidence of the Bolger name in South Africa. Historically many were Catholic, and the last name is found among the Irish Diaspora in South America, particularly Argentina. The Bolger name has maintained its prevalence and is most widely found in areas with strong Irish roots, showing how much the name has spread around the world through centuries of migration.

Variations of the surname Bolger

The surname Bolger is an anglicized form of Gaelic origin, with the root word ‘bolg’ or ‘bolc’, which means ‘bag’. This surname can be found in both Ireland and Scotland, and its variants have been used to spell out names in both countries.

Variant spellings of Bolger are Boulger, Bolgar and Bolgare, and other surnames derived from ‘bolg’ have been used as well, such as Bolex, Boules, and Boleyn. Bolger has different spelling variations in different countries or even in the same country. While in Ireland, Bolger is mainly spelled as Boulger, in Scotland and North West England it is usually spelled as Bolgar, and in England and America it is usually spelled as Bolger.

This variation in the spelling of Bolger is partly due to the different local dialects and phonetics that were used to record names in different regions over many centuries. In many cases, the spelling of the same surname would be pronounced differently in different parts of a single country, depending on regional phonetics.

Different variants of the Bolger surname have been in existence for centuries, and its origins lie in names from both Ireland and Scotland. The Irish origins of the name can be found in the names Bulger, Boleyn, Bolahon, Boger, Bolgan, Boles, Bolex and Bolgare. In Scotland, variants of the Bolger surname can be found in the names Bulger, Boleyn, Bolahun, Boger, Bolgan, Boules, Bolex and Bolgar.

Ultimately, the Bolger surname is a reflection of both Irish and Scottish heritage, with numerous variants and regional spellings.

Famous people with the name Bolger

• Stephen Bolger: Irish actor
• Ray Bolger: American actor, dancer, and singer best known for playing the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz
• James Bolger: Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Bryan Bolger: American author, speaker, and entrepreneur
• Maureen Bolger: Former Irish dancer and author
• David Bolger: American musical theater director, choreographer, and dancer
• Mary Bolger: Irish Labour politician and MEP
• Charlotte Bolger: Actress from the Irish soap opera Fair City
• Peddy Bolger: English actor
• Augusta Mary Bolger: Canadian philanthropist

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