Surname Boggs - Meaning and Origin
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Revealing Ancestral Roots: A Personal Journey with iGENEA and the Boggs Surname
My journey with iGENEA DNA testing transformed my understanding and emotions associated with my familial surname. The Boggs name evolved from a simple identity into a profound tale of survival, culture and life itself, creating a unique blend of emotions.
L. Boggs
read moreBoggs: What does the surname Boggs mean?
The last name Boggs is of Anglo-Saxon origin, specifically derived from Northern English or Scottish topographical surnames for someone who lived by a bog, which is wet, spongy ground with soil composed mainly of decayed vegetable matter. It comes from the Middle English word "bogge" or the Old Norse word "boggr." It is also a metonymic occupational name for a bog-man, i.e. a digger of peat. Boggs is an example of a type of surname that was taken from a feature of the physical geography or landscape where the original bearer lived or worked. Variations of this surname include Bogg, Boge, and Bogge among others. It is important to note that many Scottish and Irish surnames were anglicised during the 17th and 18th centuries, therefore the surname might have different spelling variations. Today, the surname is found mostly in the United States, with a smaller presence in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBoggs: Where does the name Boggs come from?
The surname Boggs is of Northern English and Scottish origin, derived from the Old English term "bogge" or "boga" which means "the dweller by the marsh". Its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, eventually spreading across regions as people migrated. It is traditionally a topographic surname for someone who lived by a bog, or a marshy area.
Today, the surname Boggs is most common in the United States with significant concentrations in Texas, California, and Ohio. It is also quite popular in England, primarily in areas such as Yorkshire, and in Scotland. It's estimated that there are between 15,000 to 20,000 people with the Boggs surname in the United States today, making it the 1864th most common surname in the country. However, even though it has spread out considerably, the surname’s distribution still tends to be relatively higher in regions with Northern English and Scottish settlements.
It should be noted that different families with the last name Boggs may have different historical origins, and not all instances of the surname are necessarily related. The frequency of the last name varies widely around the world.
Variations of the surname Boggs
The surname Boggs is considered to be of Irish or Scottish origin. Specializing in this surname can yield various spelling and versions due to factors like regional accents, literacy levels, and translation between languages over time in history. Boggs alternate spellings and related surnames include Bogges, Bogis, Boggus, Bogg, Bogus, and sometimes bugs.
It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic surname "Bogán," which is a diminutive of "Bog," meaning soft or tender. The surname may have been a nickname for an individual with a gentle nature.
Additionally, the surname Boggs can also have locational origins referring to those who lived near a bog or marshy ground. In this context, variants could include Bogg, Bogue, and Bogie.
It's also worth noting that surnames changed considerably over the centuries, and many were Anglicized, so surnames like "Boggs" may have even more variants or related names. Some families might have also chosen to simplify or alter the spelling of the name upon emigration to English-speaking countries, hence the variety in spelling today.
Famous people with the name Boggs
- Wade Boggs: A retired American professional baseball player who spent his 18-year career primarily with the Boston Red Sox.
- Thomas Hale Boggs Sr.: An American Democratic politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Lindy Boggs (Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs): An American Democratic politician and widow of Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. She was also the first woman to represent Louisiana in Congress.
- Tommy Boggs: Son of Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. and Lindy Boggs. He was a prominent American lawyer and lobbyist.
- Hale Boggs (Thomas Hale Boggs Jr.): Another son of Thomas and Lindy Boggs, and brother to Tommy Boggs, an influential lawyer, and lobbyist.
- Cokie Roberts (Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs): A renowned journalist and author, daughter of Thomas and Lindy Boggs.
- Barbara Boggs Sigmund: A daughter of Thomas and Lindy Boggs, she served as the mayor of Princeton, New Jersey.
- William Robertson Boggs: A general during the American Civil War, serving the Confederate States of America.
- Dirk Boggs: Former American football player who played one season with the Cleveland Browns.
- Monica Boggs Nutting: An adopted daughter of Thomas and Lindy Boggs, she is a philanthropist and activist.