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

Boily, 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 Boily surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boily in America

Boily is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boily surname appeared 169 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 Boily.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boily 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 Boily

The surname Boily originates from France, having its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French term "boille," which referred to a small wooden barrel or cask used for storing liquids, particularly wine.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, primarily in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. The spelling variations during that time included Boillé, Boillei, and Boillaye, reflecting the local dialects and scribal interpretations.

One notable historical reference is the appearance of the name in the Livre des Métiers, a 13th-century manuscript detailing the guilds and trades in Paris. This record mentions a certain Jehan Boillé, who was a member of the coopers' guild, further solidifying the connection between the name and the occupation of barrel-making.

In the 14th century, the name Boily gained prominence with the birth of Jean Boily (c. 1330-1395), a renowned scholar and theologian from the University of Paris. His works on canon law and theology were widely influential during his time.

Another prominent figure bearing the Boily name was Jacques Boily (1560-1635), a French explorer and navigator who was part of the expeditions to the New World. He was among the first Europeans to establish settlements in what is now the Canadian province of Quebec.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Boily family had a strong presence in the region of Normandy, particularly in the towns of Rouen and Caen. Records show that several members of the family held positions of importance, such as merchants, landowners, and local officials.

In the 18th century, Nicolas Boily (1715-1789) gained recognition as a prominent French painter, known for his portrait work and historical scenes. His paintings can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.

Another notable figure was Marie-Louise Boily (1793-1868), a French author and poet who gained acclaim for her romantic and lyrical works. Her collection of poems, "Fleurs des Champs," published in 1821, was widely celebrated and established her as a significant literary voice of her time.

Throughout the centuries, the Boily surname has maintained its significance, with branches of the family dispersed across various regions of France and beyond, carrying the legacy of this historical name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boily

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

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

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

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