Boer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Denmark
Netherlands
Italy

The surname Boer is derived from the Middle High German word "bur," meaning 'a small dwelling or building'. The word came to mean 'neighbor' or 'fellow citizen.' Alternatively, the word "boer" could have been derived from the Dutch word for 'farmer.' The prefix "de" denotes 'of' or 'the' and was often used to confirm a clan-like relationship in the family.

Early Origins of the Boer family

The surname Boer was first found in the Netherlands.

Early History of the Boer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boer research. The years 1908 and 1970 are included under the topic Early Boer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: DeBeor, Debeer, De Beer, De Boer and others.

Early Notables of the Boer family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

Jelle Taeke de Boer (1908-1970), a Dutch art collector born in Meppel, Drenth...

Boer Ranking

In the United States, the name Boer is the 17,438^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Boer is ranked the 56^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,774 people with that name. 2

Boer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Teunis Dircksen Boer, who landed in New York in 1662 3

Boer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Cornelus Den Boer, who landed in America in 1846 3
H M Boer, aged 32, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 3
Hendrik Goosens Boer, aged 30, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 3
Jan Boer, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 3
Hendrik Boer, aged 3, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Boer (post 1700) +

William De Boer (1871-1951), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Kent County 1st District, 1915-16, 1925-28; Defeated, 1912, 1916, 1930, 1932 4
Jan Gerard Wessels Boer (b. 1936), Dutch plant taxonomist
Jonnie Boer (b. 1965), Dutch Michelin star winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant De Librije in Zwolle, Netherlands
Ronaldus "Ronald" de Boer (b. 1970), former Dutch football midfielder
Thorsten Boer (b. 1968), German football manager and former player

The Boer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pro Deo, Rege et Patria
Motto Translation: For our God, our King, and country.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html