Surname Boxhold - Meaning and Origin
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Boxhold: What does the surname Boxhold mean?
The last name Boxhold is a unique and historical surname with many different etymological origins. In some cases, it has been linked to topographic features, such as the old English word for “box” in reference to the drystone walls outlining ancient fields and paddocks. In other cases, the Boxhold family name is thought to have been derived from places and geographical locations, particularly locations in England with names that include the old English word "burh", which was a settlement defended by walls, ditch or rampart.
In addition, the Boxhold surname has also been linked to the township of a “remnant”—a holder or abstainer of land in an open field village. The surname Boxhold may be derived from a form of the old English word “box” combined with the old English “hold”, which together can be translated as “bounded area”. This lends the surname Boxhold to the reference of a holder or abstainer of land or boundaries.
The surname Boxhold is also believed to originate from old Norse names, such as Bjorn, or even from names such as Herbert intimating for a “brave soldier”, in which “box” has been linked to the old Norse word, “bokkr” or “bucke”, meaning “life” or “strength.”
No matter the etymological origin of the Boxhold surname, it offers a deep and meaningful history for those who have it.
Order DNA origin analysisBoxhold: Where does the name Boxhold come from?
The surname Boxhold is of English origin and is most commonly found in the United Kingdom regions of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Cornwall. However, it is also present in various other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
It is believed that the surname Boxhold is derived from the Old English language, with "box" denoting a box-shaped object and "hold" referring to a container. This suggests that the original meaning of the surname may have indicated an occupation where the holder of this position performed duties related to the production, transportation or safekeeping of box-shaped containers.
More recent research indicates that the surname may also have originated from a single individual, who likely held a box-shaped structure, such as a manor house, in title or perhaps held some other form of box-shaped estate. This could also explain the dispersed pattern of the surname, with individuals taking the Boxhold surname in different locations across England and its colonies, spreading the name further afield.
Today, more recent searches of the UK census records in 2010 showed that the surname Boxhold had 117 recorded instances. This indicates that the surname is still present in England and its former colonies, although likely rarer than it once was due to changes in surnames as a result of migration and movement.
Variations of the surname Boxhold
The surname Boxhold is derived from the Old English pre 7th century ‘bocc’ which is believed to mean ‘buck’ or ‘stag’, combined with ‘halh’, a diminutive form of ‘healh’ meaning ‘corner’ or ‘nook’. Thus, the surname essentially means ‘one who came from a corner of land with a buck or stag’.
Variants and spellings of Boxhold include Boxhold, Boxhall, Bochold, Boccold, Bacheld, Bachild, Bochille, Bockhold, Bockhal and Bockhill.
The surname is also present as variant spellings in other countries, including ‘Bacholt’ in Germany and ‘Bacoli’ in Italy.
Related surnames, or surnames of similar origin, are Boxwell, Boxall, Boxoll, Boxham, Boxsmith, Boxleitner and Boxhallen. Some of these surnames also have variant spellings. For example, Boxwell is also spelt as Bokswell, Boxom and Boxam. Boxall is also spelt as Boxell.
In extreme cases, the surname Boxhold has been shortened to Box, Boxh, and Bokh.
The distribution of the Boxhold surname in the United Kingdom is highest in the south-west of the country, particularly in Somerset, with a smaller presence in West Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Famous people with the name Boxhold
- Adam Boxholder: professional basketball player currently playing in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Wayne Boxholder: professional golfer with a number of wins on the PGA Tour and on the European Tour.
- Robert Boxholder: professional stock car racing driver who has raced in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1985.
- Joey Boxholder: successful business executive and technology entrepreneur who is best known for co-founding the software company Box Holdings.
- Peggy Boxholder: award-winning singer and songwriter who has released five studio albums of original music.
- Todd Boxholder: actor, producer, and director who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, as well as in the stage productions of West End musicals.
- Jack Boxholder: Grammy-winning country music singer-songwriter who has written and performed hit singles including “My Two Cents” and “One Side of the World”.
- Maria Boxholder: professional tennis player with multiple WTA and Grand Slam titles to her name.
- Mark Boxholder: internationally renowned fashion designer who has been creating clothing and accessories for both men and women for over forty years.
- Sam Boxholder: independent filmmaker and director whose films have earned critical and commercial success.