Boller
A German occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of round loaves of bread or buns.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,708 Americans carry the last name Boller. That puts it at #13,177 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 126,571 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Boller surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.7K
1 in 126,571
Census rank
#13,177
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,320 bearers of the surname Boller in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13177th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Boller, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Black (6.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Boller
The surname Boller has its origins in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Bolle," which means "bowl" or "round object." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a bowl maker or in a related craft.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boller can be found in the Stadtbücher (city books) of Cologne, Germany, from the year 1292. These records mention a person named Hermannus Boller, indicating that the name was already in use by that time.
Throughout the medieval period, the Boller name appeared in various other historical records across different regions of Germany. For example, in the 14th century, a certain Johannes Boller was mentioned in the records of the city of Nuremberg.
In the 16th century, the name Boller was associated with a prominent family from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. This family played a significant role in the town's history and was involved in various trades and professions.
One notable individual with the surname Boller was Johann Boller, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1548 to 1594. He was known for his intricate engravings and woodcuts, many of which depicted religious and allegorical scenes.
Another noteworthy figure was Johann Philipp Boller, a German jurist and legal scholar who lived from 1677 to 1743. He served as a professor of law at the University of Heidelberg and authored several influential works on legal theory and practice.
In the 18th century, a certain Johann Georg Boller (1720-1788) gained recognition as a German clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovations in the field of timekeeping and contributed to the advancement of clock-making technology.
The name Boller has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Bollershausen and Bollerwalde, further indicating its geographic origins and distribution.
As the Boller surname spread across different regions of Germany and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, including Bohlert, Böller, and Böllermeyer, reflecting the diversity of local dialects and linguistic influences.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Boller
Among Census respondents with the surname Boller, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Black (6.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Boller bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Boller surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.7%
- Black or African American6.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Boller surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,177 | #13,177 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,320 | 2,320 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.79 | 0.79 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Boller bearers went from 2,320 to 2,320 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,177 to #13,177.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Boller
FAQ
Boller surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Boller?
The surname Boller holds position #13,177 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,708 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.79 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Boller surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Boller, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Black (6.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.