Surname Bouse - Meaning and Origin
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Bouse: What does the surname Bouse mean?
The last name Bouse is a German occupational name derived from the Middle High German word “busen” which means “herdsman”, “keeper of animals” or “one who tends them”.
The family name Bouse, which can be found in both Germany and the United States, is an extension of the Old German word “būzan,” which meant “to herd.” The original spelling of the name was “Büse,” although it is now spelled Bouse.
The meaning of the family name can be further derived from the ancient Anglo-Norman word “buza,” which is similar to “būsan.” This word means “to drive cattle” or “shepherd.”
The family name may have been derived from an ancestor who was employed in a rural- or pastoral-related profession, such as a swineherd, drover or herdsman. It is likely that the name was adopted by an individual who had been formally employed in one such capacity or worked independently in a related profession.
The work of a herdsman was an important occupation in the middle ages, as the raising of wild animals and herding them for food or transport was a vital source of sustenance and income. It is likely that Bouse family members held their occupational titles with pride, as it likely earned them respect, status and recognition.
Today, the Bouse family name is still widespread across much of Europe and the United States. Many family members continue to embrace their namesake and its representation of hardworking past generations, while others are unfamiliar with its origins and implications. Regardless, the last name Bouse lives on as a testament to all those who have kept the spirit of the "herdsman" alive.
Order DNA origin analysisBouse: Where does the name Bouse come from?
The last name Bouse is derived from a nickname for a "Lewde, boisterous person" in Middle English and is thought to have originated as a derivative of the German word "Bausen". It could have been used to describe a rowdy or mischievous individual. The last name is found throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
The last name Bouse is most commonly seen in the Midwestern and Southern United States. In the 2000 U.S. Census, the highest population of Bouses was located in Ohio, with a total of 377 Bouses living there. Michigan was next highest, with 304 Bouses, followed by Texas with 262, Pennsylvania with 224, and Missouri with 220. Other states with a larger population of Bouses include Indiana, Illinois, New York, and Florida.
Canada also has a fair number of Bouses living there. According to the Canadian Census of 2016, the most popular areas to find Bouses were Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. The combined population of these provinces totaled up to 1,473 Bouses.
Outside of North America, the last name Bouse is also fairly common in England, Scotland, and other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. According to The England and Wales Census of 2011, approximately 773 of the population was recorded to have the last name Bouse.
All in all, from United States, Canada, and other countries in the world, the last name Bouse has continued to be quite common today.
Variations of the surname Bouse
The surname Bouse is believed to be of German, Dutch, English, French, and Scandinavian origin. Bouse is also commonly spelled as Boush, Bauhaus, Boushey, Bausch, Bauscher, Bauscherer, Bauschke, Bowes, Bowse, Boese, and Bauchs.
The German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origin of the surname Bouse is derived from the Middle Low German term “busch,” meaning brush, bush, or thicket. It could also be derived from the Middle High German word “bshe,” meaning bush. It is generally thought to be a topographical name for someone who lived near a thicket of bushes.
In English, the surname Bouse is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century terms “bogl” and “busc,” meaning “copse” or “thicket.” It may have also been a use of the Olde English prefix “bog-” meaning “Dweller near a thicket.”
In France, the Bouse surname is believed to be derived from the Old French term “bousche,” meaning “shrub.” Alternatively, it could also have been derived from the Old French term “bouce,” which is a diminutive of “boc,” meaning “beech tree.”
All of the variants and spellings of the Bouse surname derive from the same root meanings and are considered to be of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Bouse
- Eric Bouse: American skateboarder
- Phil Bouse: American football coach
- Dominique Bouse: French singer-songwriter
- Paul Bouse: Canadian ice hockey player
- Jens Bouse: Swiss bobsledder
- John Bouse: Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Allen Bouse: Saxophone recording artist
- Peter Bouse: Canadian gold-medal winning swimmer
- David Bouse: Award-winning photographer
- Anna Bouse: Australian actress