Bossy
A surname derived from the Old French word "boissie," meaning arrogant or domineering.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Bossy. That puts it at #133,863 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bossy 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#133,863
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
126
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 126 bearers of the surname Bossy in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 133863rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bossy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 44.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.3%) and Hispanic (9.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bossy
The surname "BOSSY" is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old French word "bosse," which means "hump" or "protuberance." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a physical characteristic, such as a hunchback or a prominent feature.
The earliest known record of the surname "BOSSY" dates back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. It was found in various local records and documents from that time period, although the exact spelling may have varied slightly.
During the late Middle Ages, the name "BOSSY" appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Livre des Bourgeois de Rouen, a 14th-century document that listed the names of prominent citizens of the city of Rouen, in northern France.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "BOSSY" was Jean Bossy, a French merchant who lived in the town of Dieppe in the 15th century. Another notable figure was Pierre Bossy, a scholar and theologian from Paris, who was born in 1528 and died in 1594.
In the 17th century, the name "BOSSY" was also found in various parts of England, suggesting that some individuals with this surname may have migrated from France to England during that time period. One such person was John Bossy, an English clergyman and author who was born in 1619 and died in 1680.
Another notable individual with the surname "BOSSY" was Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, a French bishop and renowned preacher who lived from 1627 to 1704. He was a prominent figure in the literary and religious circles of his time and is considered one of the greatest orators in French history.
In the 19th century, the name "BOSSY" gained recognition in the field of science with the French mathematician and astronomer Urbain Bossy, who was born in 1837 and made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bossy
Among Census respondents with the surname Bossy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 44.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.3%) and Hispanic (9.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Bossy 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 Bossy surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander44.4%
- White41.3%
- Hispanic or Latino9.5%
- Unknown or suppressed4.8%
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bossy
FAQ
Bossy surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bossy?
The surname Bossy holds position #133,863 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bossy surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bossy, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 44.4%. The next largest groups are White (41.3%) and Hispanic (9.5%). 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.