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Boniface History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Boniface History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Boniface surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name originated with an early member who was a lucky person. The surname Boniface is derived from the Latin word bonifatius, which comes from the word bonum, which means good, and the word fatum, which means fate. Contrary to popular belief, the surname is not a derivative of bonifacius, which means well-doer. An English monk and missionary of this name was martyred in Germany in the mid-8th century, and subsequently was canonized as Saint Boniface.

He lived from (680-755) and whose original name was Winfrid or Winfrith, born at Kirton, or Crediton, in Devonshire. 1

Also, Pope Boniface VIII had several clashes with King Edward I of England over the taxation of the clergy.

Early Origins of the Boniface family

The surname Boniface was first found in Sussex, where "Boniface is an old Sussex name that has characterised the county since the 15th century." 2

Boniface of Savoy (d. 1270), was Archbishop of Canterbury, and the eleventh child of Thomas I, Ccount of Savoy. "The date of his birth is uncertain; but in his early youth he was destined for an ecclesiastical career. The numerous stock of the house of Savoy had to be provided for, and Boniface seems to have accepted a clerical life as a means of political advancement. " 1

"Boniface of Savoy, Archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1270), would give an English impetus to this name, just at the time when surnames were becoming hereditary. " 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed early spellings in various counties: Archibald Boneface, Kent; Ernald Boneface, Oxfordshire; and Bonifacius le Clerc, Lincolnshire. 3

Kirby's Quest had two early entries too: "Robert Boneface and B. Boniface atte Poule, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III.) " 4

Early History of the Boniface family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boniface research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1200, 1273, 1456 and 1543 are included under the topic Early Boniface History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boniface Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Boniface has been recorded under many different variations, including Bonyface, Boniface, Bonieface, Bonifase, Boneface and others.

Early Notables of the Boniface family

Distinguished members of the family include

Tomas Boniface, a prominent 12th century landholder in Yorkshire

Boniface Ranking

In France, the name Boniface is the 2,526^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 5

Boniface migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Boniface or a variant listed above:

Boniface Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Boniface, who arrived in Maryland in 1775

Boniface Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Boniface, who landed in America in 1831 6
Juan Boniface, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Boniface migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Boniface Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Benjamin Boniface, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 7
Benjamin Boniface, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cromwell" in 1849 8
Elizabeth Boniface, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Norman"

Boniface migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Boniface Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Jane Boniface, (b. 1822), aged 36, British seamstress travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9
Miss Mary Ann Boniface, (b. 1847), aged 11, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9
Miss Sarah Ann Boniface, (b. 1849), aged 9, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9
Mr. Edwin Boniface, (b. 1854), aged 4, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Mystery" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th March 1859 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Boniface (post 1700) +

William Boniface (b. 1963), American author of children's picture books
George C. Boniface (1832-1912), American actor
Symona Farner Boniface (1894-1950), American film actress who appeared in 120 films, best remembered for her roles with The Three Stooges
Victor Okoh Boniface (b. 2000), Nigerian professional footballer
Frédéric André Boniface (b. 1971), French former footballer
Bruce Boniface (b. 1981), British singer-songwriter, vocal arranger and record producer, better known by his surname, Boniface
André Boniface (1934-2024), French former international rugby union player for France (1954-1966), inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in March 2011
Éric Boniface (b. 1969), former French footballer
Gwen M. Boniface COM, OOnt, BA, LLB, Canadian police officer, lawyer and former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.)
Guy Boniface (1937-1968), French rugby union footballer, brother of André Boniface, inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2011
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Boniface family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Jack Boniface (b. 1903), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Hailsham, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CROMWELL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cromwell.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm