Show ContentsBoddewryd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Welsh name Boddewryd go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Boddewryd once lived in the settlement called Boothroyd in the West Riding of Yorkshire. However, there was also a place called Bodwrda in the county of Carnarvon. Alternatively, the family could have originated at Bodewryd; a location name in Anglesey, Wales. 1

Early Origins of the Boddewryd family

The surname Boddewryd was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Boothroyd where John del Botherode (1274) and Adam de Buderude (1296) were recorded at Wakefield. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Ricardus de Botherod; Willelmus Bowderode; and Ricardus Butrode as all holding lands there at that time. 3

Early History of the Boddewryd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boddewryd research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1768, 1785, 1790 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Boddewryd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boddewryd Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Boddewryd have included Boothroyd, Bodwrd, Boddwryd, Bodwryd and others.

Early Notables of the Boddewryd family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Benjamin Boothroyd (1768-1836), independent minister and Hebrew scholar, was born at Warley, in the parish of Halifax, Yorkshire, on 10 Oct. 1768, and was the son of a poor shoemaker there. He was sent to the village school, and left it when six years old, able to read the Old and New Testaments; although an unruly child, he taught himself figures and ciphering. He helped his father to make shoes for a time, but when about fourteen years old he ran away with only a few pence in his pocket. Making...
Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boddewryd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boddewryd family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Boddewryd: Abraham Boothroyd who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1845; followed by Charles and Benjamin in 1856 and 1869 respectively; Jabez Boothroyd settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1823..



  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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