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

Bovell, 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 Bovell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bovell in America

Bovell is the 34390th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bovell surname appeared 659 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 Bovell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bovell 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 Bovell

The surname Bovell has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bofel," which means a small dwelling or cottage. It is possible that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a humble abode or worked as a builder of such dwellings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bovell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Boville." This entry suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England. Over time, the spelling evolved into its current form, Bovell.

In the 13th century, records show that a family by the name of Bovell resided in the village of Bovill, located in the county of Somerset, England. This village likely took its name from the family, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographic origins.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bearing the Bovell surname emerged. One such figure was John Bovell (1554-1618), a renowned English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Norwich. Another was William Bovell (1624-1692), a distinguished English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire.

In the 18th century, the Bovell name gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Samuel Bovell (1734-1804), an English poet and writer. His works, though not widely celebrated today, were influential in their time and contributed to the cultural landscape of the period.

Crossing the Atlantic, the Bovell name found its way to the American colonies in the late 17th century. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Thomas Bovell (1658-1725), a wealthy merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia. His descendants went on to establish themselves as influential figures in various fields, including politics and business.

Another notable figure in American history was James Bovell (1817-1892), a skilled architect who designed several prestigious buildings in Philadelphia, including the Academy of Music and the Philadelphia City Hall. His contributions to the architectural heritage of the city earned him widespread recognition and respect.

Throughout its long history, the surname Bovell has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, lawyers, writers, merchants, and architects. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on the annals of history across multiple countries and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bovell

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

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

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

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