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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The surname Bosshart is derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the German elements "bos," which meant "audacious," and "hard," which meant "hardy" or "brave." Thus, the name no doubt originally referred to a person who was very tough or one who was inclined to fight. Some instances of the Bosshart surname are derived from the personal name Burkhart, and the German word boese, which meant "naughty" and "tough."
The surname Bosshart was first found in Westphalia, where the name Bossart became noted for its many branches within the region, where each house acquired a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the Bossart family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bosshart research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1539 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Bosshart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Bosshart include Bossart, Bosart, Bosarte, Bossarte, Bossard, Bossardt, Bosard, Bosardt, Bossarde, Bosarde and many more.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bosshart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them: