Show ContentsBole History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Bole comes from when its first bearer worked as a maker of wooden bowls and dishes, from the French bolle.

Early Origins of the Bole family

The surname Bole was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Bole family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bole research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1407, 1410, 1413, 1420, 1528, 1650, 1700 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bole History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bole Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bole include Boll, Bolle, Boal and others.

Early Notables of the Bole family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Bole, English politician, Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in 1407, 1410, 1413 and 1420

Ireland Migration of the Bole family to Ireland

Some of the Bole family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bole migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bole or a variant listed above:

Bole Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Margaret Bole, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "David" in 1635 1
  • Mary Bole, who landed in Virginia in 1650 1
  • Henry Bole, who landed in Maryland in 1678 1
  • Peter Bole, aged 20, who arrived in New England in 1699 1
  • Peter Bole, who settled in New England in 1699
Bole Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Bole, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
Bole Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Bole, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 1
  • Robert Bole, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 1
  • Francis Bole, who arrived in California in 1879 1

Australia Bole migration to Australia +

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

Bole Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Bole, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 2

New Zealand Bole 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:

Bole Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Bole, aged 35, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875
  • Ann Bole, aged 32, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875
  • George Bole, aged 4, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875
  • Bella Bole, aged 2, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Bole (post 1700) +

  • Lieutenant Commander John Archibald Bole Jr (1906-1943), American posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross, eponym of the destroyer USS John A. Bole (DD-755)
  • Cliff Bole (1937-2014), American director, best known for his work on Star Trek: the Next Generation, Star Trek: Vaoyager, XFiles and more
  • Grega Bole (b. 1985), Slovenian professional road bicycle racer


  1. 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)
  2. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml


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