Contents [hide]

Dubois History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Dubois History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The name Dubois was originally derived from the Old French "bois," which meant "wood." The name was no doubt originally used in France by someone living or working in the woods. 1

Early Origins of the Dubois family

The surname Dubois was first found in Essex where William de Bois was listed as holdings land there at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086.

However, due to the literal translation of the name into English, we cannot presume that there is one main branch from which all others have evolved. By example, "De Bois-Arnaud, hereditary stewards of the counts of Breteuil, sires of Poilly," signatures appeared in the charter of William Fitz-Osborne to the Lire Abbey during the reign of William I. 2

De Bois-Herbert who were barons of Halberton, Devon were listed there in 1050. Apparently they flourished in Dorset, but the Devon record was a branch of the family at that time.

A little further to the north in Buckinghamshire, De Bois-Robert from whom Robert de Bois descended held estates there in 1086. 2

Another source notes that some of the family were Protestant Huguenots who fled to England from Brittany settling in Thorney, Canterbury, Norwich and London. 1

Early History of the Dubois family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dubois research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1296, 1327, 1388, 1396, 1447, 1533, 1541, 1560, 1571, 1589, 1596, 1599, 1607, 1612, 1619, 1625, 1643, 1644, 1645, 1656, 1663, 1664, 1667, 1678, 1710, 1718, 1736 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Dubois History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dubois Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bois, De Bois, Dubois, Boyes, Boys, Boyse, Boice and many more.

Early Notables of the Dubois family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Boys (fl.1388), Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle, John Boys (died 1447), Member of Parliament for Middlesex; John Boys (died 1533), Member of Parliament for Sandwich; John Boys (1571-1625), Dean of Canterbury from 1619 to 1625; and his nephew, Edward Boys (1599-1667), an English divine; William Boys (1541-1596), an English politician, Member of the Parliament of England for Queenborough in 1589; John Boys (1607-1664), Royalist captain, Governor of Donnington...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dubois Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dubois World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dubois is the 1,248^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Dubois is ranked the 192^nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,100 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Dubois is the 72^nd popular surname. 5 France ranks Dubois as 3^rd with 95,998 people. 6

Migration of the Dubois family to Ireland

Some of the Dubois family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dubois migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dubois Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Abraham DuBois, who arrived in New York in 1660 7
Isaac DuBois, who landed in New York in 1660 7
Lewis Dubois, who landed in New York in 1660 7
Louis DuBois, who arrived in New York in 1660 7
Family DuBois, who landed in New York in 1660 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dubois Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham DuBois, aged 38, settled with wife and family in England and/or America in 1709
Cualtherus DuBois, who landed in New York, NY in 1715 7
Gualtherus DuBois, who arrived in New York in 1715 7
Jacques DuBois, who arrived in Louisiana in 1718-1724 7
Louis Pierre Dubois, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dubois Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Vincent Dubois, who arrived in Louisiana in 1805-1809 7
Joseph Dubois, who landed in New York in 1819 7
H. Dubois, aged 40, who settled in Baltimore in 1820
Pedro Dubois, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1822 7
Ernest Alexis Dubois, who landed in New York in 1828 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dubois migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dubois Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Madeleine Dubois, born in 1640 is the daughter of Isaac and of Anne Richer of St-Sauveur, diocese of La Rochelle
Mr. Pierre Dubois, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 26th February 1644 8
Jean Dubois, who arrived in Canada in 1648
Pierre Dubois, son of Jean and Opportune, who married Françoise Meunier, daughter of Jacques and Françoise, in Quebec on 30th September 1658 9
Dorothée Dubois married in Champlain, Quebec in 1661
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dubois Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

François Dubois, son of Jean and Catherine, who married Marguerite Charles, daughter of Étienne and Madeleine, in Boucherville, Quebec on 18th January 1700 9
Jean-Baptiste Dubois, son of Pierre-René and Anne, who married Marguerite André, daughter of Michel and Françoise, in Lachine, Quebec on 25th June 1704 9
Clément Dubois, son of Jacques and Catherine, who married Marie-Anne Jouin, daughter of Pierre and Marie-Jeanne, in Beaumont, Quebec on 1st February 1706 9
François Dubois, son of François and Anne, who married Anne Lambert, daughter of Aubin and Élisabeth, in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec on 20th April 1711 9
François Dubois, son of François and Cunégonde, who married Angélique Cadoret, daughter of Georges and Barbe, in Lévis, Quebec on 27th July 1723 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dubois Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jean Dubois, laborer, residing at La Rochelle, Quebec was married to Anne Normand and had 5 daughters and 1 son

Contemporary Notables of the name Dubois (post 1700) +

Brian Andrew DuBois (1967-2023), American Major League Baseball pitcher from Joliet, Illinois who played for the Detroit Tigers (1989-1990)
William Edward Burghardt Dubois (1868-1963), American writer
Brendan DuBois, American mystery fiction and suspense writer, two-time Shamus Award for Best Short Story of the Year winner
Michel Y Dubois M.D., Director of Research and Education, and Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at the NYU School of Medicine
James Taylor DuBois (1851-1920), American diplomat and journalist, US Ambassador to Colombia (1911-1913)
Mary Constance DuBois (1879-1959), American author
Fred Thomas Dubois (1851-1930), American Republican politician, Senator from Idaho (1891-1897 and 1901-1907)
Charles H. Dubois, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Edward Church Dubois (1848-1914), American politician, Justice of Rhode Island State Supreme Court, 1899 10
Coert Dubois, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1820-21 10
... (Another 34 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
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)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html