Boshell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Boshell surname lived in Yorkshire, in the parish of Bossall. While the surname is largely considered local, there are other possible origins of this name. It may be of patronymic origin, based on the first name of the father and would have derived as "the son of Bussell." 1

The name may also be of occupational origin and in this latter case it was originally derived from the Old English word busshel and would probably have been used to describe one who made bushel-baskets. 2

Early Origins of the Boshell family

The surname Boshell was first found in the North Riding or Yorkshire as Bossall, a parish, partly in the wapentake of Birdforth, but chiefly in that of Bulmer. 3 The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Bosciale 4 and probably meant "nook of land of a man called Bot or Botsige," from the Old English personal name + "halh." 5

The parish of Hutton-Buscel (also in the North Riding of Yorkshire) is of particular significance to the family. "This parish derives its name from having been anciently the 'High town of the Buscel or Bushel family.' " 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls include: Margareta Bosell; Johannes Bussell; Laurencius Bossell; and Johanna Bossell as all holding lands there at that time. 1

Over in Leyland, Lancashire, another branch of the family was found in ancient times. "Warin Bussel, one of the barons under Roger de Poictou, in the reign of William I., held, among his ample demesnes, the parish of Leyland: at a very early period." 3

Another early record was found in Birkdale, Lancashire. The manor of Birkdale was originally held by Wibert in 1066. Warin Bussel (presumably the same as the aforementioned) held a portion of Penwortham before 1100. However, there mention of Bussel handing the property down to his heirs as the manor was passed to the Halsall family. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Geoffrey Buscel, Norfolk; Reginald Buscel, Norfolk; William Bushel, Huntingdonshire; and John Bussel, Cambridgeshire 1

Newton Bushell, Devon was held by "the Bushells, its possessors in the latter half of the thirteenth century. Teignweek was given in 1246 to Theobald de Englishville, and by him to his foster-child and kinsman, Robert Bushell. The Bushells continued until Richard II., when their heiress brought it to the Yardes. " 7

In Somerset, "Bushell is a name now scantily represented in the county. Two hundred years ago there was a Bath family of this name, members of which, on various occasions, filled the office of mayor (Warner's "Bath"). The name is still in that city." 8

Early History of the Boshell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boshell research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1140, 1200, 1594, 1609, 1621, 1643, 1651, 1667, 1670, 1674, 1684 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Boshell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boshell 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 Boshell 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 Boshell include: Bushell, Bussel, Bushle, Bushel, Bussell, Buchell, Buchel, Boushell, Boushel, Bousel and many more.

Early Notables of the Boshell family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Bushell (1594-1674), English speculator and farmer of the Royal mines, born about 1594, and was a younger son of a family of that name living at Cleve Prior in Worcestershire. "At the age of fifteen he entered the service of the great Sir Francis Bacon, and afterwards acted as his master's seal-bearer. When Bacon became lord chancellor, Bushell accompanied him to court, and attracted the notice of James I by the gorgeousness of his attire. On the occasion of Bacon's disgrace Bushell thought it prudent to retire to the Isle of Wight, where he...
Another 177 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boshell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boshell migration to Australia +

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

Boshell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Boshell, (b. 1819), aged 18, Irish whitesmith who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in 19th April 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1890 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Boshell (post 1700) +

William G. Boshell, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul General in Bogotá, 1897 10
Martin Boshell, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Bogotá, 1884 10
Tobias "Bias" Boshell (b. 1950), English songwriter and musician, founder of the folk rock band Trees, member of the Moody Blues (1991-2001)
Daniel Kevin "Danny" Boshell (b. 1981), English professional footballer
Gordon Boshell (1908-1991), British journalist, poet, scriptwriter, editor and novelist, probably best known for his "Captain Cobwebb and the Red Transistor"

The Boshell 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: Dum spiro spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html