Surname Bosley - Meaning and Origin
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Deeper Insights into the Surname Bosley: A Review of the iGENEA DNA Test Experience
The iGENEA DNA test has illuminated my ancestral roots, specifically shedding light on my paternal lineage associated with the surname Bosley. The technical aspects of the test and the insights gathered from it provided a deep understanding of my heritage.
R. Bosley
read moreBosley: What does the surname Bosley mean?
The last name Bosley is of English origin and is a locational surname, derived from a place named Bosley in the county of Cheshire. The place name itself is said to come from the Old Norse words ‘bos’, meaning a small forest, and ‘lëah’ meaning a meadow or clearing. The Bosley family were landowners and early records show they held a family seat at Bosley since the Middle Ages.
The Bosley family motto, ‘Ubi Bona Ibi Patria’, is Latin for ‘Where you have good fortune, there is your homeland’, and their coat of arms has silver fleur-de-lis against a blue background, which represents faith, loyalty and courage.
The Bosley family can be found in many locations around the World today, as descendants of the original family have since travelled far beyond the homeland of Bosley. Those who bear the name are proud of their roots and the history which has come with the name Bosley. They take great pride in the family motto and the coat of arms, symbols which represent the values and beliefs to which the family have long held.
Order DNA origin analysisBosley: Where does the name Bosley come from?
The last name Bosley is of English origin and is popular in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and North Carolina, where it is the 828th most common last name. The top five states with the most Bosleys are Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, Georgia, and California.
In the UK, the surname is most heavily concentrated in the region of East Midlands, where it ranks as the 589th most common surname. It is also popular in the regions of East of England, South East, and South West, where it ranks as the 707th, 1,259th, and 1,440th most common surname respectively.
The name Bosley can also be found in other countries, such as Canada and Australia. In Canada, the name is most popular in the province of Nova Scotia, while in Australia, it is most common in the state of Victoria.
Thus, while the name Bosley is still relatively common today, its popularity varies by location. The surname tends to be particularly popular in certain regions and countries, such as the East Midlands in the UK and the states of Tennessee and Texas in the United States.
Variations of the surname Bosley
The surname Bosley is a popular spelling, however there are various other spellings and variants of the same origin that are also in use. These include Bosly, Bossley, Boslesi, Bossley, Boslye, Basley, Bossell, Bossel, Bauzol, Bozolli, and Bozelle.
Bossley is believed to be the original spelling of the surname, which dates back to the 14th century in Devon, England. Van Bosley, recorded in 1625 in nearby Cornwall, is thought to have evolved from the Bossley name.
Bosly has been found as a surname in Ireland, with the earliest recorded appearance of the name in the late 1700s in County Cork. Bosley is derived from the personal name Boso which in turn is derived from the Latin name Boso, found in records from the 1200s.
Bossell is an alternative spelling that has been found in Wiltshire, England, in the early 1600s, and has the same origin as Bossley. Bossel, Bozolli, and Bozelle are believed to be mutations of the Bosley surname, and may have appeared from transcription errors or variations in pronunciation.
Basley is thought to be the earliest recorded spelling of the surname, appearing around 1350 in Gloucestershire and Staffordshire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words ‘bæsce’ (bush) and ‘lēah’ (clearing).
Lastly, Bauzol is a variant of the Bosley surname found mainly in France. It could have been derived from one of the many demographic movements of the area in the Middle Ages, and dates back to the 1500s in Bupleur District, Ain.
Famous people with the name Bosley
- Tom Bosley: American actor, famous for his role as Howard Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days.
- Angela Bosley: American broadcast journalist and television news anchor.
- Chiddingfold Bosley: British colonial administrator and author.
- Lee Bosley: Popular American composer and musician.
- Fred Bosley: American actor best known for his work in television series such as Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- David Bosley: American actor and voice-actor, best known for his roles in The Finest Hours and Captain America: Civil War.
- Willard M. Bosley: Retired American politician who served as the mayor of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin from 2000 to 2007.
- Jeff Bosley: Screenwriter, producer and director who worked on films such as Windtalkers and Romeo Must Die.
- Karl Bosley: American professional wrestler best known for his stint in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
- Clem Bosley Jr.- First African-American mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1975.