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Boss History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Boss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The roots of the Boss family are found in the ancient German state of Bavaria. Boss is one of the most common styles of German surname, that of patronymics and metronymics - names derived from the given names of the father or mother of their original bearers. Boss is derived from the medieval name Boss, a frequent shortening of the personal name Burkhard. In medieval times, given names were frequently abbreviated as terms of affection and endearment. This Germanic personal name was also associated with the German word boese, which meant naughty and tough. Thus, the name referred to a person who was very tough or one who was inclined to fight.

Early Origins of the Boss family

The surname Boss was first found in Westphalia, where the name Bosse was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society of early Europe. The family would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Boss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boss research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early Boss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boss Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Boss include Bosse, Bosses, Bauss, Bausse, Bausses, Boss, von Bosse, Boesse and many more.

Early Notables of the Boss family

Notables of the period with the name Boss were

the von Bosse family of Westphalia

Boss Ranking

In the United States, the name Boss is the 3,714^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Boss is ranked the 9,034^th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2

Boss migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Boss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander Boss, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 3
John Boss, who landed in Virginia in 1706 3
Johannes Boss, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 3
Frans Joseph Boss, aged 21, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 3
Andreas Boss, who arrived in Long Island in 1781
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boss Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. BOSS, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 3
Christopher Frederick Boss, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1843 3
Theodore Boss, aged 35, who arrived in Missouri in 1845 3
A. P. Boss, who arrived in San Francisco in 1851
A P Boss, who landed in Sari Francisco, California in 1851 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boss Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Albert Boss, aged 16, who settled in America from Baden, in 1901
Alice Boss, aged 0, who immigrated to America from England, in 1902
Alexander Boss, aged 39, who landed in America from London, in 1903
Barbara Boss, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1908
Albert Boss, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boss migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boss Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Andrew Boss, who landed in Canada in 1820

Boss Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Annie Boss, who settled in Canada, in 1912

Boss migration to Australia +

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

Boss Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Newcomb Boss, (b. 1795), aged 24, English convict who was convicted in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
George Boss, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 5
Joseph Boss, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Boss (post 1700) +

Stephen Laurel "tWitch" Boss (1982-2022), American freestyle hip hop dancer, choreographer, actor, television producer, and television personality, co host on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Harold Francis Boss (b. 1903), American life insurance executive
Lewis Boss (1846-1912), American astronomer
Jeffrey Boss (b. 1963), American politician, Candidate for President of the United States, 2008 (Independent), 2012 (NSA Did 9/11); Candidate in Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey, 2009 6
Henry Manchester Boss Jr. (1875-1960), American Republican politician, U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, 1926, 1929-34; Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1934 6
George A. Boss, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1964 6
Ferdinand Boss, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Jeffersontown, Kentucky, 1882-85, 1889-93 6
Eugene S. Boss, American politician, Member of Connecticut State Senate 17th District, 1882-83 6
Elizabeth H. S. Boss, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Laurel, Maryland, 1934-44 (acting, 1934) 6
David B. Boss, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hunterdon County, 1864-65 6
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Constance.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html