Show ContentsBoethe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Boethe is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a herdsman. The surname Boethe is derived from the Old English word bothe, which in turn comes from the Old Danish word both, which means cow-house or herdsman's hut. 1

Early Origins of the Boethe family

The surname Boethe was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first listings of the name was Gilbert Bothe, del Both in 1274. 2 This line continued to be strong as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 attest through the listing of: Rogerus del Boothe; Adam de Bothe; and Margeria de Bothe as all living there and holding lands at that time. 3

"The great family of Booth of Lancashire and Cheshire take their designation from their lordship of Booths in the former county, where they resided in the XIII century." 4 Indeed the Lancashire branch is of note as in "Booth as a surname, has strongly ramified in South Lancashire. " 3

Over in Barton-Upon-Irwell in Lancashire another branch of the family was found. "Barton Old Hall, a brick edifice, now a farmhouse, was the seat successively of the Barton, Booth, and Leigh families." 5

Early History of the Boethe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boethe research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1566, 1622, 1626, 1652, 1675, 1678, 1680, 1684, 1685, 1689, 1690, 1694, 1700, 1758, 1890 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Boethe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boethe Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Boethe has appeared include Booth, Boothe and others.

Early Notables of the Boethe family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir George Booth, 1st Baronet of Dunham Massey (1566-1652), Sheriff of Lancashire and Cheshire; George Booth, 2nd Baronet of Dunham Massey, 1st Baron Delamer (1622-1684), Member of the House of Lords, an English peer; Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1652-1694), Member of Parliament for Cheshire (1678-1685), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1689-1690); George...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boethe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Boethe family to Ireland

Some of the Boethe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boethe family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Boethe arrived in North America very early: Thomas Booth who settled in Virginia was a descendant of the Earl of Warrington; Richard Booth who settled in Connecticut was from the Bowden branch in Cheshire.



The Boethe 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: Deus adjuvat nos
Motto Translation: God assists us.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  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)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook