Show ContentsDe boer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname De boer is derived from the Middle High German word "bur," meaning 'a small dwelling or building'. The word came to mean 'neighbor' or 'fellow citizen.' Alternatively, the word "boer" could have been derived from the Dutch word for 'farmer.' The prefix "de" denotes 'of' or 'the' and was often used to confirm a clan-like relationship in the family.

Early Origins of the De boer family

The surname De boer was first found in the Netherlands.

Early History of the De boer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our De boer research. The years 1908 and 1970 are included under the topic Early De boer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

De boer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: DeBeor, Debeer, De Beer, De Boer and others.

Early Notables of the De boer family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Jelle Taeke de Boer (1908-1970), a Dutch art collector born in Meppel, Drenth...

De boer Ranking

In the United States, the name De boer is the 4,972nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name De boer is ranked the 9th most popular surname with an estimated 43,543 people with that name. 2


United States De boer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

De boer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Pieter DeBoer, who arrived in New York in 1648 3
  • Pieter Jansz DeBoer, who landed in New York in 1648 3
De boer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Beertje W DeBoer, aged 44, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 3
  • K H DeBoer, aged 30, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 3
  • Hendrikus DeBoer, aged 29, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1853 3

Contemporary Notables of the name De boer (post 1700) +

  • Kalen DeBoer, American football coach and former player, three-times AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008-2009)
  • Brent DeBoer, American singer-songwriter
  • Arthur DeBoer (1917-2007), American cardiologist and Professor Emeritus
  • Saco Rienk DeBoer (1883-1974), American landscape architect and civic planner
  • Harry DeBoer (1903-1992), American labor militant and Trotskyist
  • Kalen DeBoer, American football coach and former player
  • William DeBoer, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives, 1935-48 4
  • John Deboer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1956 4
  • Jerry DeBoer, American politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Wyoming, Michigan, 1967 4
  • George DeBoer, American Democratic Party politician, National Democratic Candidate for Presidential Elector for Alabama, 1968 4
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The De boer 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: Pro Deo, Rege et Patria
Motto Translation: For our God, our King, and country.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  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 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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