Surname Bovier - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bovier: What does the surname Bovier mean?
The last name Bovier is of French origin, primarily concentrated in the region of Lorraine in northeastern France. The name is derived from the French word 'bouvier', which translates to 'cowherd' or 'cattle breeder'. It is categorized as an occupational surname, referring to the occupation of the name's original bearer. In ancient times, such surnames often served to denote a person’s trade, craft, or job. Therefore, the ancestors of the Bovier family likely were cattle breeders by profession. Like many other old surnames, over time, its spelling may have undergone changes and variations. It is also worth mentioning that this name could have some regional variations in meaning due to its age and the historical migrations and movements of people.
Order DNA origin analysisBovier: Where does the name Bovier come from?
The surname Bovier is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "bouvier" which means 'cattle dealer' or 'herdsman'. Therefore, it is considered an occupational surname, often given to individuals who worked as cattle herders. Over time, people with this surname spread throughout many French-speaking regions.
Today, the surname Bovier remains more common in France, particularly in regions that were historically involved in cattle-herding. However, due to migration and diaspora, this surname can also be found in various parts of the world, especially in places where French-speaking populations have settled, such as Canada, part of Switzerland, Belgium, and the United States. Despite its dispersion, Bovier is still not an overly common surname in global comparison.
Variations of the surname Bovier
The surname Bovier is of French origin, indicating someone who herded cattle. This surname may have alternate regional spellings due to dialectal influences, migrations, and translations. Variants and alternate spellings of Bovier could include Bouvier, Bovy, Bovie, Bouviez, Bovet, and Bove.
Bouvier is most widely recognized due to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, the former U.S. First Lady. Note that Bouvier is also the name of a Belgian breed of dog, named for their history as cattle herders which ties back to the original occupational meaning of the surname.
The surnames Bovy, Bovie, Bouviez are less common and are most likely due to regional dialectal differences or clerical errors in the recording of the surname in historical documents. The variants Bovet and Bove might be due to a truncation of the original surname, or could represent a similar but distinct lineage.
Remember that the spelling of surnames can often evolve over time and vary immensely due to historic lack of standardization in spelling, so there might be other less common variants as well.
Famous people with the name Bovier
- Léo Bovier: A Swiss photographer and professional documer of the region around Geneva who has featured in international museums around the world.
- Theodore Bovier-Lapierre: A French Impressionist artist, primarily known for his landscapes and urbanism works.
- Yves Bovier: A famous Swiss advertising photographer who also works in graphic design, fashion, interiors and architecture.
- Pascal Bovier: A Swiss journalist and editor of several newspapers.
- Julien Bovier: A French sculptor and illustrator who mainly works with metal and who produces contemporary, abstract artworks.
- George Bovier: A French poet who is known for his biographies and works of fiction with a strong social component.
- Michel Bovier: A Swiss painter, best known for his portraits of people, animals, and landscapes.
- André Bovier: A German-born Swiss philosopher whose works are mainly concerned with moral and political philosophy.
- Elisabeth Bovier: A French actress who is best known for her role in the film "Jean de Florette".
- Alfred Bovier: A Swiss industrialist who founded the Bovier company, one of the leading Swiss watch makers of the time.