NameCensus.

UK surname

Boye

From a French surname meaning "homeboy" or "villager".

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Boye surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newham, Southwark and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boye is 145 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2010

145 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boye had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Boye surname distribution map

The map shows where the Boye surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Boye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boye over time

The 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 59 #27,609
1911 historical 42 #28,691
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Boyes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newham, Southwark, Wandsworth and Leeds. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newham 030 Newham
2 Southwark 011 Southwark
3 Southwark 020 Southwark
4 Wandsworth 002 Wandsworth
5 Leeds 033 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boye

These lists show first names that appear often with the Boye surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boye, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Boye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Boye household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Boye is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boye is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boye falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Unknown

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boye

The surname BOYE has its origins in France, where it emerged in the late Middle Ages. Derived from the Old French word "boier," meaning "to mark boundaries," the name was initially associated with those who worked as land surveyors or officials responsible for delineating property boundaries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BOYE appears in the Armorial Général of France, a heraldic register compiled in the late 17th century. This document mentions several families bearing the name, primarily concentrated in the northern regions of France.

During the 13th century, the name BOYE can be found in various legal and administrative records in the regions of Picardy and Normandy. One notable individual from this period was Jean de BOYE, a nobleman and landowner born in 1245 in the village of Boisleux-au-Mont, near Arras.

By the 15th century, the surname had spread to other parts of Europe, with variants such as BOYE, BOYÉ, and BOYER emerging in regions like Flanders and the Netherlands. One prominent figure from this era was Pieter BOYE, a Dutch merchant and diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiating trade agreements between the Netherlands and England in the late 1400s.

In the 16th century, the BOYE surname gained recognition in England, with records showing individuals bearing the name settling in various parts of the country. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William BOYE, a landowner and member of the gentry in Oxfordshire, who was born in 1532 and died in 1612.

As the centuries progressed, the BOYE surname continued to spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Jean-Baptiste BOYE (1680-1745), a French composer and organist known for his contributions to church music. 2. Carl BOYE (1806-1879), a Danish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines. 3. Marie-Françoise BOYE (1821-1899), a French writer and feminist activist who advocated for women's rights and education. 4. John BOYE (1837-1902), an American Civil War veteran and politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. 5. Karin BOYE (1900-1941), a renowned Swedish poet and novelist whose works explored themes of existentialism and feminism.

The surname BOYE has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple regions, evolving from its origins as a designation for land surveyors to a name carried by individuals from various professions and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boye surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 12 Boyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 3.00x
Yorkshire 10 2.52x
Ayrshire 5 16.71x
Kent 3 2.20x
Glamorgan 2 2.87x
Northumberland 2 3.36x
Berkshire 1 3.33x
Devon 1 1.20x
Gloucestershire 1 1.27x
Lanarkshire 1 0.77x
Lancashire 1 0.21x
Oxfordshire 1 4.05x
Surrey 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 6 Boyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.96x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 6 62.96x
Stevenston 5 641.03x
Tottenham 5 78.49x
Poplar London 4 52.98x
Drighlington 3 517.24x
Lewisham 3 41.21x
Cardiff St Mary 2 52.08x
Tynemouth 2 62.70x
Brize Norton 1 909.09x
Chelsea London 1 8.30x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 1 555.56x
Govan 1 3.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 15.60x
Rotherhithe 1 20.24x
Shinfield 1 555.56x
St Marylebone London 1 4.68x
Thornaby 1 67.57x
Twickenham 1 58.48x
West Derby 1 7.20x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Boye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Harriett 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Elise 1
Eliz. 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Mary 1
Olene 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Boye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 2
William 2
C.O. 1
Charles 1
Fred 1
Hans.J. 1
Henry 1
John 1
Olive 1
R.O. 1
Reinold 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Boye households.

FAQ

Boye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Boye surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Boye a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Boye surname mean?

From a French surname meaning "homeboy" or "villager".

What does the Boye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boye bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.