UK surname
Derived from the Middle English Boyse, meaning a dweller in a marshy area or bog.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Boyse surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newington, Kempston and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyse is 160 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.1%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1891
160 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Boyse surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Boyse surname density by area, 1881 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 | 86 | #18,820 |
| 1861 | historical | 62 | #26,041 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 160 | #17,555 |
| 1901 | historical | 121 | #20,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 134 | #19,131 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 86 | #29,281 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 82 | #30,206 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 92 | #31,301 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 93 | #31,785 |
| 2014 | modern | 96 | #31,667 |
| 2015 | modern | 89 | #32,325 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newington, Kempston, Kings Norton, London parishes and Astbury. 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 | Newington | Kent |
| 2 | Kempston | Bedfordshire |
| 3 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Astbury | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Boyse 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 Boyse, 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 Boyse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Boyse 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, Boyse 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 Boyse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Boyse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BOYSE has its origins in the Anglo-Norman French language and is believed to have originated in England in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "bois," meaning "wood" or "forest," and may have initially referred to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked as a forester.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where a person named William Boise is mentioned. The name also appears in various other historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Bois."
During the Middle Ages, the BOYSE surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England. The name underwent various spelling variations, including Boyse, Boyce, Boise, and Boyes, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.
Notable individuals with the surname BOYSE include:
1. John Boyse (c. 1585-1643), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St. John's College, Cambridge. 2. Joseph Boyse (1660-1728), an Irish Presbyterian minister and author who wrote extensively on theological topics. 3. Samuel Boyse (1708-1749), an English poet and dissenting minister known for his satirical works and criticism of the Church of England. 4. William Boyse (c. 1665-1728), an English clergyman and botanist who studied the flora of Yorkshire and contributed to the establishment of the Botanic Garden in Oxford. 5. John Boyse Narrowmore (1775-1842), an English artist and engraver renowned for his landscapes and architectural drawings.
The BOYSE surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Bois Hall in Yorkshire and Bois Manor in Gloucestershire, further cementing its connection to the Old French word "bois."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyse 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. Kent leads with 17 Boyses recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 17 | 4.12x |
| Hampshire | 15 | 6.05x |
| Surrey | 13 | 2.21x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.83x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 3.80x |
| Renfrewshire | 8 | 8.54x |
| Devon | 7 | 2.78x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.58x |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 8.21x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.35x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.50x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.11x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 1.61x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 3.19x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.84x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2.29x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.76x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.66x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 6.79x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 4.56x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.49x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 11 Boyses recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.63x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Boyse 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 Boyse 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 Boyse households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 17 |
| General Labourer | 5 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Farm Laborer | 2 |
| Boilermakers Wife | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Butler Dom Serv | 1 |
| Cap Wexford Regt Militia | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Closer | 1 |
| Crape Weaver | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Florest | 1 |
| Foreman (Bailiff) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| House Decorator | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Keeps A Magle | 1 |
| Lab Wife | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Lacemaker | 1 |
| Market Gardener | 1 |
| Market W... | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Organ Maker (Tob Manuf) | 1 |
| Pastry Cook | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Post Office Porter | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Railway Guard | 1 |
| Schollar | 1 |
| Shopfitter And Furniture Broker Employing 1 Man | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Soldiers Wife | 1 |
| Solicitors Managing Clerk | 1 |
| Tobaccnist | 1 |
| Waiter (Inn) | 1 |
| Widow | 1 |
| Wife Of Ag Lab | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Boyse surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Boyse a modern rank of #32,815.
Derived from the Middle English Boyse, meaning a dweller in a marshy area or bog.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boyse 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.