Contents [hide]

Bohn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Bohn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

Bohn is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bohn family lived in Sussex. Their name, however, does not refer to that area, but to their former place of residence, the town of Bohun, in the French maritime department of La Manche, in western Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Bohn family

The surname Bohn was first found in Sussex. Humphrey with the Beard (died c. 1113) was a Norman soldier and nobleman fought in the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 and is the earliest known ancestor of the de Bohun family. 2

He had three sons: Robert de Bohun, who had no issue; Richard de Bohun, progenitor through the female line, of the Bohuns of Midhurst; and Humphrey I de Bohun (died c.1123) who through marriage became "the founder of the fortunes of his family." His son, Humphrey II de Bohun (died 1165) continued the lineage. His son, Henry de Bohun (1176-1220), was the 1st Earl of Hereford and Hereditary Constable of England from 1199 to 1220. 3

"Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, inheriting the honour of Essex from his mother, Maud, sister and heiress of William de Mandeville, last Earl of Essex, was created Earl of that county by Henry III., and in a few years after stood sponsor for Prince Edward. In 1250, he assumed the cross, and proceeded to the Holy Land, and in the great content between the King and the Barons, fought under the banner of the latter, in whose army his son Humphrey was one of the most distinguished leaders, and commanded the infantry at the Battle of Evesham. " 2

Early History of the Bohn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bohn research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1215, 1220, 1275, 1298, 1342, 1368, 1372, 1373, 1394, 1397, 1587, 1645, 1660, 1698, 1699 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bohn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Bohn have been found, including Bohon, Bohun, Bone, Boon, Boone, Bohan, Bound and many more.

Early Notables of the Bohn family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Humphrey VII de Bohun (d. 1298), 3rd Earl of Hereford and 2nd Earl of Essex, who, along with Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, led the barons in opposition to King Edward I; Humphrey de Bohun (1342-1373), 7th (and last) Earl of Hereford, 6th Earl of Essex and 2nd Earl of Northampton; and Mary de Bohun (c.1368-1394), who was the...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bohn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohn Ranking

In the United States, the name Bohn is the 4,077^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Bohn is ranked the 4,652^nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Bohn family to Ireland

Some of the Bohn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bohn migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bohn were among those contributors:

Bohn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Betu Bohn, who, according to immigration lists, was the first Bohn member to arrive in North America, settling in Pennsylvania in 1728
Adam Bohn, aged 27, who settled in Philadelphia in 1736
Henrich Thielemann Bohn, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 6
Peter Tielmann Bohn, who arrived in America in 1740 6
Johan Jacob Bohn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bohn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs. Nikolaus Bohn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1828 6
Heinrich E Bohn, aged 42, who landed in Missouri in 1840 6
A Bohn, aged 35, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 6
Riemert Bohn, who arrived in Missouri in 1848
Riemert Bohn, aged 29, who landed in Missouri in 1848 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bohn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Bohn, who arrived in Alabama in 1913 6
Maria Bohn, who landed in Alabama in 1929 6
Franz Bohn, who arrived in Alabama in 1929 6

Bohn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bohn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Carl F Bohn, who arrived in Quebec in 1850

Contemporary Notables of the name Bohn (post 1700) +

Brigadier-General John James Bohn (1889-1983), American Chief of Staff II Corps (1942) 7
Jason Bohn (b. 1973), American professional (PGA) golfer
John Augustus Bohn Jr. (b. 1937), American banker and lawyer in California
William Chanler Bohn (b. 1921), American audio-acoustic consultant
John L Bohn (1872-1955), American politician, mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1942-1948)
Frank Probasco Bohn (1866-1944), American politician, member of the US House of Representatives from Michigan
Karl Erik Bohn (1965-2014), Norwegian teacher and team handball player and coach
Carsten Bohn (b. 1948), German musician
Hans Bohn (1891-1980), German graphic artist and typographer
Henry George Bohn (1796-1884), British publisher

Historic Events for the Bohn family +

Bismarck

Horst Bohn (1923-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
Heinz Bohn (1919-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 22) John Bohn. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Bohn/John_James/USA.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details