| ![Show Contents]() Boice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Boice is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The name Boice is derived from the Old French word "bois," which means "wood," and indicates that the original bearer lived near a wooded area, such as a forest. 1 Early Origins of the Boice familyThe surname Boice was first found in various parts of Scotland including Hugo Delboys who witnessed a confirmation charter by Hugh, Bishop of St. Andrews c. 1185-1188 according to the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. A few years later, Richard del Bois witnessed a confirmation charter of fishery in Torduf between 1194 and 1211. 2 About the same time, Walterus de Bosco witnessed a charter by Robert the Bruce c. 1190. Robert Boys was listed in Dumfriesshire c. 1259. Willelmus de Bosch or de Bosco, cancellarius domini regis, appears frequently as witness in the chartularies of Soltre, Glasgow, Kelso, Brechin, and Arnbroath between 1189-1222. Gaufridus de Bosco, Humphrey de Bosco, and Thomas de Bosco appear as charter witnesses between 1215-1245. Robert Boys is recorded in Dumfriesshire, c. 1259. 2 The Scottish branch of this ancient Norman family likely moved north from England to their first place of landing and settlement after the Conquest, as many of the earliest records of the family in Scotland were almost 100 years later. By example, Robert de Bois held estates in Buckinghamshire in 1086. The De Bois-Herbert family were barons of Halberton, Devon c. 1050.3 "Sir Humphrey de Bois, of Dryfesdale, who was slain at Lochmaben in 1333, is supposed by Dalrymple to have been the ancestor of Hector Boece, the historian." 4 Early History of the Boice familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boice research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1150, 1296, 1413, 1465, 1536, 1543, 1594, 1719 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Boice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Boice Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Boyce, Boyes, Boze, Bois, Boise, Boice, Boas, Bost, Bust, Boast, Boost and many more. Early Notables of the Boice familyNotable among the family at this time was Hector Boece (sometimes spelt Boethius, or Boyce) (1465-1536), a Scottish philosopher and first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen. John Boste or Boaste (1543?-1594), was and English Catholic priest, "born of a good family at Dufton, in Westmorland, in or about 1543, and educated at Oxford. He was imprisoned in the Tower, where he was 'often most cruelly rack'd, insomuch that he was afterwards forced to go crooked upon a staff.' When he had so far recovered as to be fit to travel, he was sent back to the north, and...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boice Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Boice RankingIn the United States, the name Boice is the 14,116th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Boice family to Ireland
Some of the Boice 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.
| Boice migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Boice Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Win Boice, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 6
- Thomas Boice, who arrived in Maryland in 1675 6
Boice Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- David Boice, who landed in Virginia in 1702 6
Boice Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Joseph Boice, aged 68, who landed in Maine in 1812 6
- Alexander Boice, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 6
| Boice migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Boice Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. John Boice Jr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 7
- Mr. John Boice Sr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 7
Boice Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- William Boice, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor" in 1834
- Sally Boice, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1838 aboard the brig "Susan Maria Brooke" from Donegal, Ireland
- Unity Boice, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1838 aboard the brig "Susan Maria Brooke" from Donegal, Ireland
| Contemporary Notables of the name Boice (post 1700) | + |
- James Boice (b. 1982), American fiction writer
- Griffin Boice, American record producer, mixer, songwriter, and composer
- James Montgomery Boice Th.D. (1938-2000), American Reformed theologian, Bible teacher, and pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (1968-2000)
- T. Boice Purdy, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Oakland County 2nd District, 1961
- P. Boice Esser, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Westchester County 2nd District, 1959-64 8
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- 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)
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 30) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Boice migration to the United States 
Boice migration to Canada 
England
Scotland
Ireland
