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

Bovee, 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 Bovee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bovee in America

Bovee is the 11436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bovee surname appeared 2,754 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bovee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bovee 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 Bovee

The surname Bovee is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It likely originated in the northern regions of France, particularly in the Normandy area. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French word "boue," meaning "mud" or "clay," suggesting a connection to an occupation or location associated with muddy or clayey terrain.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Bouvey, Bouvée, and Bouvay, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, England, dated 1176, where a Robert de Bouveye is mentioned.

The Bovee surname gained prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Jacques Bovee, a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, France, during the early 16th century.

Another historical figure of note was Jean Bovee, a French Protestant theologian and author who lived from 1549 to 1621. His works, particularly his treatise on religious tolerance, played a significant role in shaping the intellectual discourse of the time.

In the 17th century, the Bovee family established a presence in the New World, with some members settling in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (present-day New York). One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in North America is that of Pieter Bovee, who arrived in New Amsterdam (New York City) in 1662.

The 18th century saw the rise of Antoine Bovee, a French military officer who served in the French and Indian War and later fought alongside the American colonists during the American Revolutionary War. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and respect from both sides of the conflict.

As the Bovee surname spread across different regions, it underwent further variations in spelling, including Bove, Bovey, and Bovy. One notable bearer of this variant was William Bovey, an English engineer and architect who lived from 1773 to 1853 and was responsible for the construction of several notable bridges and buildings in London.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bovee

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

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

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

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