Show ContentsBoor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Boor family

The surname Boor was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in Amsterdam, an ancient 13th century town held by the Lords of Amstel. Giesebrecht II built a castle there. Geisbrecht III built the dam to keep out the sea. It is first mentioned in charters of 1275 when Floris IV, the count of Holland granted its charter. It became a city of great mercantile wealth and held great art treasures. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.

Early History of the Boor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boor research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boor Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bor, Borr, Boor, Borre, Bore, Boore, Borres, Borrs, Bors, van Bore and many more.

Early Notables of the Boor family

More information is included under the topic Early Boor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Boor migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Simon Jacob Boor, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 1
  • Mathias Boor, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
Boor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Boor, aged 29, who arrived in New York, NY in 1832 1

Australia Boor migration to Australia +

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

Boor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Boor, (b. 1813), aged 23, English ploughman who was convicted in (Holland), Lincolnshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1891 2

New Zealand Boor 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:

Boor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • R. Boor, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
  • J. W. Boor, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
  • R. Boor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 3
  • J.W. Boor, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 3
  • H. E. Boor, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Boor (post 1700) +

  • Carl-Wilhelm Reinhold de Boor (b. 1937), German-American mathematician and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who developed De Boor's algorithm
  • Boris Boor (b. 1950), Austrian silver medalist equestrian at the 1992 Summer Olympics
  • Brandon Boor (b. 1988), Australian rugby league player
  • Helmut de Boor (1891-1976), German medievalist


  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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