Bosk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Bosk date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Bosk family lived near a bush. The name Bosk is derived from the Old Norman buskr, which means bush. The Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Gilbert and William le Busc in Normandy 1180-95. 1

Early Origins of the Bosk family

The surname Bosk was first found in Yorkshire. It is likely that the name was first assumed by someone living in this county near a prominent bush. The first known bearer of the name was Richard de la Busce, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1181. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Thomas atte Busk; Agnes at Busk; and Thomas Bosc. 3 Earlier the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had included Hamo le Bosco and Henry del Busk, but no county was listed.

Early History of the Bosk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bosk research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1181, 1275, 1305, 1379, 1668, 1772, 1780, 1796, 1800 and 1862 are included under the topic Early Bosk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bosk Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bosk are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bosk include: Busk, Buske, Busce, Bosc, Buscke, Bosk, Busker and many more.

Early Notables of the Bosk family

Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bosk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bosk migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bosk or a variant listed above:

Bosk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Isaac Bosk, who landed in Arkansas in 1893 4

The Bosk 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: Suaviter sed fortiter
Motto Translation: Mildly, but firmly

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)