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

Boese, 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 Boese surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boese in America

Boese is the 11578th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boese surname appeared 2,715 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Boese.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boese 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 Boese

The surname "Boese" is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "boese," which translates to "wicked" or "evil." The name likely originated as a nickname given to someone with a perceived unpleasant or ill-tempered disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Boese" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name was already in use during that time period, primarily in the regions of present-day Germany.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name "Boese" was Hans Boese, a German merchant and trader from the city of Lübeck. His name appeared in various trade records and contracts from that era, indicating the prominence of his business ventures.

Moving forward to the 16th century, the name "Boese" gained further recognition with the birth of Johannes Boese (1504-1569), a German Lutheran theologian and reformer. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and authored several influential works on theology and religious doctrine.

Another notable individual with the surname "Boese" was Carl Boese (1887-1958), a German film director and producer active during the early 20th century. He directed numerous silent films and was a pioneering figure in the German film industry of that era.

In the realm of literature, the name "Boese" is associated with Erich Boese (1890-1969), a German author and poet known for his works exploring themes of social criticism and political commentary. His writings provided valuable insights into the cultural and political landscape of his time.

While the surname "Boese" has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above demonstrate the deep-rooted connection of this name to its German heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boese

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

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 Boese 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 Boese 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 Boese was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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