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

Boody, 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 Boody surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boody in America

Boody is the 52851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boody surname appeared 392 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 Boody.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boody 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 Boody

The surname Boody is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Cornwall. The earliest recorded instances of this name can be traced back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bod," which means a dwelling or a temporary shelter.

One of the earliest known records of this surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall from 1327, where a John Bodi is listed. The name was also mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1278, indicating its presence in the neighboring county as well.

During the Middle Ages, the name likely referred to someone who lived in a small hut or a modest dwelling. As surnames became more common, this descriptor may have been adopted by families residing in such humble abodes.

The name Boody has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Bodi, Bode, Boddy, and Bodie. These variations were often due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable figure with the surname Boody was Thomas Boody, a merchant and shipowner from Devon who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Records indicate that he was involved in the trade with Spain and the Americas.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir John Boody, a Member of Parliament for Cornwall in the 17th century. He was born in 1621 and served in the English Parliament during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, a man named William Boody gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in Cornwall, including St. Ives Parish Church, which was completed in 1768.

The surname Boody also appears in historical records related to the American colonies. One example is Samuel Boody, who was born in 1676 in Massachusetts and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church.

A more recent figure with the surname Boody was Sir Henry Boody, a British naval officer who lived from 1827 to 1901. He served in the Royal Navy and was involved in several military campaigns during the latter half of the 19th century.

While not as common as some other English surnames, the name Boody has left its mark on history, particularly in the counties of Cornwall and Devon, where it originated and thrived for many centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boody

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

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

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

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