Surname Boz - Meaning and Origin
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Boz: What does the surname Boz mean?
The last name Boz likely originates from the Germanic personal name "Bosolt" which means "a bold one." The name is likely also derived from the Old High German root "bodwig" which means "lord" or "ruler." It is also possible the name is derived from the Middle High German root "bossez" which means "bush" or "shrub." Over time, the name Boz has developed a variety of other spellings and pronunciations including Bozz, Boese, Boesey, Bozzey, and Bozzey.
The name Boz is quite common throughout Europe – in France, Germany, England, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, and elsewhere – and has been adopted by families of different nationalities. It is thought to have first become popular in Old English and then spread throughout Europe.
Throughout different parts of the world, the last name Boz has become a symbol of strength, courage, and leadership. Through centuries of time, the name Boz has been linked to joy and strength – signifying a leader with a robust personality and courageous outlook. Those who carry the name today continue to embody the characteristics associated with the name by leading with courage and strength.
Order DNA origin analysisBoz: Where does the name Boz come from?
The last name Boz is derived from the medieval English word for box or "bos," and is most common in Turkey, where it is the 25th most common surname. It is also fairly common in Azerbaijan and Croatia. Outside of those countries, the last name Boz is still seen in Turkey's former territories in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.
In the United States, the Boz surname is relatively uncommon as compared to other surnames of European origin. A 1790 census indicated only 4 Boz families in the United States at the time, although this number is likely higher today. Additionally, it is estimated that there are currently fewer than 4,500 individuals with the Boz surname living in the United States.
The Boz surname is also occasionally seen in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, although it is not particularly common. In the United Kingdom, the 8,000 individuals with the Boz surname are found largely in the southern half of the country, with the majority located in the region of South East England.
The Boz surname can also occasionally be found in South America and Central America, likely due to European immigrants who brought the name to the Americas over the years.
Overall, the Boz surname is most common in Turkey and other countries with close ties to the region, such as Croatia and Azerbaijan. The surname is also seen in smaller numbers elsewhere around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, South America, and Central America.
Variations of the surname Boz
The surname Boz has an array of variants, spellings, and surnames stemming from the same origin. The most common variations of Boz are Boas, Boase, Boazes, Boce, Bocey, Booce, Bouce, Bouse, Bowce, and Bowes. Common misspellings include Boaz, Boase, Bose, Boice, Boze, Booss, Boos, Boes, and Bows.
Boz is believed to stem from the Old French term "bossu," meaning "humpbacked," and was most likely a nickname for a person of such a physical build. Some individuals with this surname also descended from families with the given name Boso or Bozo.
Other surnames that have a similar origin to Boz are Boso, Buz, Boissière, Bossuet, Bosquet, Bouseaud, Bosc, Bouce, Bousquet, Buso, and Bex. These surnames originate mainly from northern France, Belgium, and parts of the Netherlands.
In Germany, the Bos surname was adopted from other surname regions, as well. This surname was popularized in East Germany, and it is believed to originally derive from Bos, a Teutonic given name meaning "forest." In Sweden, it is believed that the Bofe or Bohf surname stemmed from the same Teutonic name and is related to Bos as well.
In English speaking countries, some individuals have changed the spelling of their Boz surname to Boase, Bozwart, Bozzart, Bowzzard, Bowzzart, Bowsard, Bowzard, and Buzzoil. Most of these variations arose in the late 16th century. They are mainly located in Devon, Cornwall, and London, England.
Ultimately, the surname Boz, as well as its variants and spellings, has a wide variety of backgrounds throughout Europe and some worldwide origins. For some, the term has been around since the 11th century and originates from France or the Teutonic name Bos.
Famous people with the name Boz
- Big Boz (rapper and entertainer)
- Boz Scaggs (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
- Jack Boz (computer programmer)
- Shane Boz (American actor)
- James Boz (British businessman)
- Billy Boz (American football quarterback)
- Z. Alex Boz (American film and television actor)
- Eric Boz (British musician)
- William Boz (American actor)
- Bob Boz (American basketball player)
- Chuck Boz (American musician and producer)
- Dave Boz (American rock drummer)
- Paul Boz (presenter on BBC Radio 1)
- Mike Boz (American artist)
- Stu Boz (American sports journalist and writer)
- Scott Boz (American drummer and vocalist)
- Eric Boz (American baseball player).