Show ContentsBove History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bove family

The surname Bove was first found in the city of Reggio-Emilia, where records show Gerardo de Corviago Bovini living here in 1079.

Early History of the Bove family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bove research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1430, 1484, 1503, 1572, 1734, 1781 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Bove History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bove Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Bove include Bove, Bova, Bovi, Bue, Buo, Bui, Bua, Boe, Boi, Boy, Bo, Dal Bo, Del Bo, Lo Bue, Lo Boi, La Bua, Boelli, Boellis, Bovetto, Bovetti, Bovet, Boetto, Boetti, Boet, Boeddu, Bovino, Bovin, Boin, Buini, Bovoli, Bovani, Boano, Bovini, Bovara, Bovetini, Bovelli, Bovaro, Bovari and many more.

Early Notables of the Bove family

Prominent among members of the family was

  • Bovetinodei Bovetini, who was an intellectual in Mantua in the 13th century
  • Girolamo Bove was appointed mayor of Sezze by Pope Sisto IV in the 15th century

Bove Ranking

In the United States, the name Bove is the 5,836th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Bove is ranked the 5,504th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


United States Bove migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Bove:

Bove Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Doninick Antonio Bove, who landed in Mississippi in 1895 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Bove (post 1700) +

  • Linda Bove (b. 1945), Deaf American actress who played the part of Linda the Librarian on the children's television program Sesame Street from 1971 to 2003, responsible for introducing thousands of children to sign language
  • Carol Bove (b. 1971), Swiss-born, American artist and collector
  • Joseph E. Bove, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from New Haven; Elected 1940 4
  • John Bove, American politician, Representative from Pennsylvania 22nd District, 1974 4
  • Armand Bove, American Republican politician, Chair of Macomb County Republican Party, 1965 4
  • Raphael Bove (b. 1979), Italian-born, Australian footballer who has represented Australia at international level


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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