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

Boyett, 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 Boyett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boyett in America

Boyett is the 7465th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boyett surname appeared 4,465 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Boyett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boyett 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 Boyett

The surname Boyett has its roots traced back to the English medieval era, originating from regions in the counties of Somerset and Devon in the south-west of England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "boga," meaning "a bow" or "an archer," suggesting a historical connection to archery or military service.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Boieta" or "Boiet." This vital historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and variations of surnames during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name is documented in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Boyete" and "Boyet." This suggests that the surname had already established itself and was in use across different regions of England.

During the late medieval and early modern periods, the name evolved into its current spelling of "Boyett." One notable figure from this era was Richard Boyett, a merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol, who lived in the late 15th century and is mentioned in local records from that time.

In the 17th century, John Boyett, born in 1623 in Somerset, was a prominent figure who served as a justice of the peace and played a role in the local government of his region. His son, William Boyett (1655-1718), continued the family's legacy as a respected landowner and magistrate.

Another significant figure bearing the Boyett surname was Sir Thomas Boyett (1695-1768), a successful businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Bridport in Dorset during the mid-18th century.

The 19th century saw the migration of many Boyett families to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, where they contributed to the growth and development of their new communities. One notable example is James Boyett (1825-1892), a farmer and landowner who settled in Ontario, Canada, and played a role in the region's agricultural development.

Throughout its history, the surname Boyett has been associated with various professions, from military service and archery in its early origins to merchants, landowners, politicians, and farmers in later centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its connection to the Old English word "boga" and the archery tradition remains a significant part of its etymological heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boyett

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

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

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

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