Show ContentsBody History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Body has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person with a striking physique.

Early Origins of the Body family

The surname Body was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Body family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Body research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1296, 1597, 1688 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Body History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Body Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Body have been found, including Body, Boddy, Boddie, Bodie, Bode, Bodhy, Bodin, Bott, Botter, Bodds, Bods, Botty and many more.

Early Notables of the Body family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Body Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Body Ranking

In the United States, the name Body is the 11,915th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Body is ranked the 5,917th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Body family to Ireland

Some of the Body family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Body migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Body, or a variant listed above:

Body Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Body, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 3
  • Robert Body, who landed in Virginia in 1645 3
  • William Body, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 3
  • Ann Body, who landed in Virginia in 1665 3
  • Mary Body, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Body Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Body, who landed in Virginia in 1756 3
Body Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Body, who arrived in Maryland in 1844 3
  • Mr. John Body, (b. 1823), aged 70, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1893 en route to Michigan, USA 4

Body migration to Australia +

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

Body Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Body, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Mr. Frederick Eliel Body, (b. 1812), aged 35, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 28th July 1847, sentenced for 7 years for forging a warrant with intent to defraud, transported aboard the ship "Hashemy" on 2nd December 1848 to New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. George Body, (b. 1807), aged 42, Cornish schoolmaster from South Hill, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Steadfast" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 26th March 1849 7
  • Mrs. Mary Body, (b. 1809), aged 40, Cornish settler from Frogwell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Steadfast" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 26th March 1849 7
  • Miss Harriett Body, (b. 1831), aged 18, Cornish house servant from South Hill, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Steadfast" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 26th March 1849 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Body migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Body Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Body, (b. 1839), aged 23, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 8
  • Mrs. Emiline Body, (b. 1841), aged 21, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 8
  • Mr. Richard Body, (b. 1857), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer departing on 27th October 1876 aboard the ship "Waipa" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th January 1877" 9
  • Thomas Body, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brahmin" in 1883

Contemporary Notables of the name Body (post 1700) +

  • Ralph C Body (1903-1973), American lawyer and judge
  • Sir Richard Bernard Frank Stewart Body (b. 1927), English politician, member of the UK Parliament
  • John Stanley "Jack" Body ONZM (1944-2015), New Zealand composer, photographer, artist and ethnomusicologist


  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. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  5. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 1st February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charles-kerr
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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