Surname Boughen - Meaning and Origin

Boughen: What does the surname Boughen mean?

The surname Boughen is of English origin and is topographic for a person who lived by a bough or branch. The name is derived from the Middle English word "bogh" or "bough", which means a branch of a tree. It is also possible that in some instances the name could have been a professional name for a dealer in boughs or branches of trees used for fuel. Like many other English surnames, Boughen likely started as a nickname or job description before becoming a hereditary surname. As a topographic surname, it also would have served the practical purpose of identifying individuals based on their geographic location, serving as an identifier of where a person lived or worked. It is also worth mentioning that surnames like Boughen can have different origins and meanings in different regions and cultures, and this is only one interpretation. The spelling of surnames often changed over centuries due to a lack of standardization in early records, making the exact history of such names difficult to trace.

Boughen: Where does the name Boughen come from?

The surname Boughen is of English origin. It is believed to be a locational surname, deriving from a place name. One possible source is the Old English word "boga", meaning ‘bow’ and possibly referring to a curve in a river or road; combined with the suffix "-en" which is typically added to denote ‘of’ or ‘from’. Hence, it might refer to someone who lived by a bow in the river or road.

Another hypothesis suggests the name links to a village called Boughton which has various locations in England, thus referring to any of these villages. Further, there are variations in spelling, including Bowgen, Boygen, Boagen, etc., reflecting the phonetic spelling of the surname over centuries.

Today, it seems to be most common in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia. There is also a small presence of the Boughen surname in the United States. Nevertheless, it remains a relatively rare surname globally. As with all surnames, the distribution may have evolved over time due to migration, intermarriage, and other social changes.

Variations of the surname Boughen

The surname Boughen originates from the Old English word "boga," meaning "bend" or "bow." This surname could have been given as a nickname to a person who had a physical deformity such as a hunchback, or it may have referred to someone who lived near a notable bend in a road or river.

In terms of spelling variations, Boughen may have been written down based on phonetic interpretations of its pronunciation, leading to a number of potential variations. These may include Boughan, Bogan, Bougen, Boghen, Bouhan, Bohan, and so on.

In some cases, geographical movements, cultural assimilations, and language changes may also have influenced the evolution of the surname, creating even more variations like Boyhan, Boohan, Bohen, or Bohan.

As for the surname's origin, it appears to be primarily derived from British Isles, mostly England. Hence, one could potentially find more variants of the surname in areas influenced by English language and heritage. However, these listed variants are speculative and actual derivatives may differ based on specific historical and demographic contexts.

Famous people with the name Boughen

• Josh Boughen: an Australian writer, actor, producer and director.
• Alex Boughen: a professional Canadian basketball player who plays with the G League's Long Island Nets.
• Peter Boughen: a Canadian artist specializing in realistic and detailed representations of the natural world.
• Geoff Boughen: a British actor and producer.
• Kyle Boughen: an offensive lineman for the Edmonton Football Team of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
• Brigitte Boughen: a Canadian opera singer.
• Sean Boughen: a Canadian ice hockey player.
• Joel Boughen: a Canadian actor and producer.
• Steve Boughen: a former professional Canadian Football League player.
• Michael Boughen: a Canadian pianist and composer.

Other surnames

BoughBoughanBoughannanBougherBoughmanBoughnBoughton