Surname Bosely - Meaning and Origin
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Bosely: What does the surname Bosely mean?
The surname Bosely is believed to be of English origin and is thought to be a toponymic surname for someone that originated from a place named Bosley. Located in the County of Cheshire, Bosley is a village and civil parish with visual evidence of settlement since ancient Roman times. The origin of the place name is derived from the Old English ‘bosca’ which means ‘wood’ and ‘leah’ which is an enclosed meadow. As such, Bosley can be translated to mean ‘wood meadow’. Since the 1300s, Bosley has been occupied by varying family names associated with the region.
As for the surname Bosely, some researchers speculate that this could be derived from either of two Middle English terms: ‘bosen’, which translates to ‘cut up’ or ‘slashed’, and ‘bostel’ which means ‘pigsty’. It is most likely, however, that those with the last name Bosely are tied to the parish of Bosley and trace their lineage back to the village. It is believed that people with the Bosely surname moved from the region and adopted the surname at about the same time. This would explain why the surname has spread to so many countries over the centuries.
Today, the surname Bosely is typically associated with countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia, among others. Those with the surname Bosely are invited to explore its origin and join the Bosley One Name Study Group, a mutual aid association dedicated to researching and creating a single genealogical tree of all 'Bosely' family members.
Order DNA origin analysisBosely: Where does the name Bosely come from?
The last name Bosely can be found throughout many parts of the world today. It is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also found throughout parts of Europe, especially in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
In the U.S., the last name Bosely is especially popular in the states of Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee. Georgia and Alabama both have the highest population of people with the name, with more than 3,500 people noted in the U.S. Census 2010. Virginia comes in second with over 2,500 followed by Tennessee at approximately 2,000.
In Canada, the last name Bosely is most commonly found in Ontario with more than 1,500 people, followed by Alberta at just over 800. Other parts of the country the name is found in but less commonly include British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Québec.
Australia and New Zealand are two other countries with a significant population of people with the last name Bosely, although they posses lower numbers than the more popular countries already mentioned. Australia has 650 people with the last name, while New Zealand has slightly fewer than 500.
Overall, the last name Bosely is most popular in the United States, with significant numbers found in Savannah and other parts of the South. It is also widely found in Canada and parts of Europe, as well as in New Zealand and Australia.
Variations of the surname Bosely
The surname Bosely (or Bosley) is of ancient English, Scottish, Irish, and German origin. It dates back to a time when Europe was divided into a large number of independent states and kingdoms and is listed as both a topographic and a habitation name. Topographic names refer to people who lived in a geographical location, while habitation names are derived from the name of the place where a person lived.
In England the variants of the surname Bosely include Bosley, Bosly, Bosely, Boseley, Boselye, and Bosell. In Scotland, the variants include Bosly, Boslwey, Bolie, Brouly, and Broillee. In Ireland, the variants are Bosley, Bosleagh, and Bruley. In Germany, the variants are Boswil, Bosle, Bosille, Boesel, Bosel, Boselle, Boselonen, Bosselmann, and Bosselman.
Nicknames for the surname Bosely (or Bosley) include Bose, Bos, Boss, and Bosie.
The name has origins in all these countries, but most of the surnames derived from it can be traced to England and Scotland.
The most notable family with the surname Bosely is that of Sir Charles Bosely, who served as a Member of Parliament in the 17th century. He was also the Chief Justice of Ireland in 1660.
The Bosely family is one that has a long and rich history having been associated with many professions and influential positions.
Famous people with the name Bosely
- Woody Bosely: Actor known for his work in films such as The Hudsucker Proxy, Get Shorty, In the Line of Fire, and Jackie Brown.
- Jim Bosely: Drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Billy Cox's Band of Gypsys.
- Rod Bosely: English musician best known as a founding member of the band Franke and The Knockouts.
- Major General Charles Bosely: Served as commander of the 1st Regiment of the New York State National Guard.
- Nick Bosely: Professional basketball player from the United States who played for the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Mary Bosely: American instructor and political figure who served as the Massachusetts secretary of state.
- Stephen Bosely: Actor who appeared in the films Hannah Montana: The Movie and The Amazing Spider Man.
- William Bosely: English comedy actor best known for his appearances in the films Carry On Nurse, Carry On Cleo, and Carry On Dick.
- Joseph Bosely: Reggae artist and composer, with singles such as “Chicka Boom”, “Crockett’s Chant”, and “What a Good Good Night”.
- Katherine Bosely: American author best known for her novels Long Lost and I Shall Rise Up.