Find out how popular the last name Boals is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Boals.

Boals, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Boals surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boals in America

Boals is the 29231st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boals surname appeared 810 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Boals.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boals to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Boals

The surname "BOALS" is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bol," meaning a rounded hill or knoll. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bolles." This entry refers to a landowner named Bolles in the county of Derbyshire. Other early spellings include "Bolls," "Boles," and "Booles."

The Boals surname is closely associated with the village of Boals, located in the county of Shropshire. This place name likely originated from the Old English words "bol" and "halh," meaning a rounded hill in a hollow or valley. It is possible that some early bearers of the surname may have hailed from or lived near this village.

Notable individuals with the surname Boals include:

1. John Boals (c. 1550-1620), an English merchant and member of the East India Company, who played a crucial role in establishing trade relations with India.

2. William Boals (1675-1744), a Scottish writer and philosopher, known for his work on moral philosophy and ethics.

3. Mary Boals (1832-1918), an American educator and activist, who founded several schools for African American children in the post-Civil War era.

4. Robert Boals (1892-1972), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor awarded for valor in the face of the enemy during World War I.

5. Elizabeth Boals (1918-2003), an American artist and painter, renowned for her landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of the American West.

Throughout history, the Boals surname has been present in various regions of England, Scotland, and later in North America, as families migrated and settled in different parts of the world. While its origins can be traced back to Old English roots, the name has evolved and been adapted over centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural influences that have shaped its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boals

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Boals.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Boals was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Boals has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Boals was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Boals, please contact us.

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