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

Boggs, 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 Boggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boggs in America

Boggs is the 1262nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boggs surname appeared 27,880 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Boggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boggs 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 Boggs

The surname Boggs has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bog," which referred to a small stream or a marshy area. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near or were associated with such geographic features.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Boggs can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, where it appears as "de Bogges." This early spelling variation reflects the common practice of adding the prefix "de" to denote a person's place of origin or association.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk. One notable bearer of the name was John Boggs, a merchant and landowner mentioned in these letters around 1450.

The Boggs surname has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Boggsworth in Leicestershire and Bogg's Green in Cheshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English root word and may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Boggs. One such person was Benjamin Boggs (c. 1680-1749), an English Quaker who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century and became a prominent landowner and community leader.

Another notable figure was James Boggs (1760-1839), an American pioneer and surveyor who played a significant role in the early settlement of Ohio. He was instrumental in establishing the town of Boggsborough (now known as Circleville) and served as a military officer during the War of 1812.

In the literary realm, Kate Boggs (1875-1957) was an American author and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and rural life. Her collection of poems, "The Blazed Trail," published in 1911, received critical acclaim.

The name Boggs has also been associated with the world of sports. Bert Boggs (1901-1976) was an American professional baseball player who played for various teams in the Major Leagues, including the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox, during the 1920s and 1930s.

Lastly, Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015) was an influential American author, social activist, and philosopher. She was a prominent figure in the Black Power movement and advocated for various civil rights and labor causes throughout her long and remarkable life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boggs

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

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

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

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