UK surname
French occupational surname for a woodcutter or woodworker, derived from Old French "bois" meaning "wood."
In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Boice surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #27,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to North Leverton, Applethorpe, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Burgate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boice is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
42
Ranked #27,721
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Boice surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Boice surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 42 | #27,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around North Leverton, Applethorpe, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Burgate, Chesterfield and Windlesham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Leverton, Applethorpe | Nottinghamshire |
| 2 | Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth | Cambridgeshire |
| 3 | Burgate | Suffolk |
| 4 | Chesterfield | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Windlesham | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Boice surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boice, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Boice surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Boice household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Boice is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Boice, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Boice has its origins in France and is derived from the Old French word "bois," meaning "wood" or "forest." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a forested area.
The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century in various regions of France, such as Normandy and Burgundy. It was often spelled "Bois" or "Boys" in these early records.
In the 13th century, a notable individual named Jean du Bois was mentioned in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. This monastery was renowned for its extensive library and served as a center of learning during the Middle Ages.
As the name spread across Europe, different spellings emerged, including "Boyce" and "Boies." One of the earliest recorded examples of this variant can be found in the 14th century in England. A man named Richard Boyce was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327.
During the 16th century, the surname Boice gained prominence in Scotland. In 1585, a man named Robert Boice was recorded as a merchant in the Burgh Records of Edinburgh. This suggests that the name had become established in Scottish society by that time.
Another notable individual with the surname Boice was John Boice, a member of the Virginia Company of London, which played a crucial role in the establishment of the Virginia colony in the early 17th century. His name appears in the company's records from 1619.
In the 18th century, a French immigrant named Jacques Boice settled in Pennsylvania, United States. He is recorded as having been born in 1725 and is considered one of the earliest bearers of the name in America.
As the name continued to spread and evolve, it took on various spellings, including "Boyes," "Boyse," and "Boise." One prominent individual with this spelling was James Burgh Boyes, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
The surname Boice has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple countries, reflecting the movement and settlement patterns of its bearers throughout Europe and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boice surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 10 Boices recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 10 | 15.17x |
| Aberdeenshire | 8 | 21.09x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 10.87x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 6.01x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.38x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 3.05x |
| Stirlingshire | 2 | 13.24x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.90x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.86x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.11x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.16x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.84x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.17x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 8 Boices recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 8 | 112.68x |
| Walcot | 7 | 199.43x |
| North Leverton | 6 | 15000.00x |
| Mildenhall | 3 | 566.04x |
| Bardney | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Falkirk | 2 | 56.50x |
| Hove | 2 | 66.01x |
| Taunton St James | 2 | 208.33x |
| Chatteris | 1 | 151.52x |
| Exeter St David | 1 | 136.99x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 60.98x |
| Long Sutton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Moreton In Marsh | 1 | 500.00x |
| Preston Quarter | 1 | 101.01x |
| Southampton All Sts | 1 | 69.44x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 18.94x |
| Stapeley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| West Calder | 1 | 92.59x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Boice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Boice surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Boice households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Housemaid Domestic | 2 |
| (Coster) News Vendor | 1 |
| Baker Out Of Business | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Pupil (Scholar) | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Wine Merchants Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Boice surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Boice a modern rank of #36,596.
French occupational surname for a woodcutter or woodworker, derived from Old French "bois" meaning "wood."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boice bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.