Contents [hide]

Boring History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Boring History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Boring reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Boring family lived in parishes at Cambridge, Berkshire, Somerset and Gloucester. Their original family seat was at Barentin in Normandy, and they were one of a group of families that draw their name from this location. 1

Early Origins of the Boring family

The surname Boring was first found in Cambridge and Lincolnshire where they have held a family seat from very ancient times. Barrington or De Barenton was located near Caudebec, Normandy. 1

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use in early times.

Fulk de Barenton was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1198 and a few years later, Geoffrey de Barrington was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset and Somerset in 1219. In Essex, the Feet of Fines for 1344 include and entry for Nicholas de Baryngton. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Warin de Barenton, Cambridgeshire; Gilbert de Barenton, Cambridgeshire; Drogo de Barentin, Oxfordshire; and William de Barentin, Oxfordshire. 3

"Some of the families of this name claim a Norman descent, and derive their name from Barenton. The Irish Baronet deduces himself from a Saxon progenitor, keeper of the Forest of Hatfield in the days of the Conqueror. Le Neve derives the name from an imaginary Saxon called Barentine, but according to Sir Jonas Barrington's Memoirs, the family's Norman origin is unquestionable. The surname was variously written Barentin, Barentyn, Barenton, Barentine, and at length took the English form of Barrington, There are parishes bearing this name in four English counties." 4

As far as the place names are concerned, most date back to Domesday Book of 1086: Barrington, Cambridgeshire was recorded as Barentone at that time; Barrington in Somerset was recorded as Barintone; and Great & Little Barrington, Gloucestershire was recorded as Bernin(n)tomne. 5 All places are derived from a "farmstead of a man called 'Barra', which is an old personal name. 6

Early History of the Boring family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boring research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1588, 1601, 1605, 1611, 1621, 1628, 1629, 1644, 1645, 1648, 1660, 1671, 1679, 1683, 1715, 1728, 1764, 1797, 1800 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Boring History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boring Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Boring family name include Barrington, Barentin, Berrington, Berington, Berinton, Barenten, Barenton, Barentine, Barentyn, Barrinton, Barrenkton, Barringston and many more.

Early Notables of the Boring family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Berrington, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1588; Sir Francis Barrington, 1st Baronet (ca. 1570-1628), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Essex (1601-1611) and (1621-1628); his son, Sir Thomas Barrington, 2nd Baronet (died 1644)...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boring Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boring Ranking

In the United States, the name Boring is the 7,696^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Boring family to Ireland

Some of the Boring family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boring migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Boring family to immigrate North America:

Boring Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Philip boring, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 8

Boring Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Heinr Anton Boring, who landed in America in 1850 8
Ferdinand Boring, aged 19, who landed in America from Hamburg, in 1898

Boring Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Louise Boring, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Ruth Boring, who settled in America, in 1907
William Boring, who immigrated to America, in 1907
Wm. A. Boring, aged 47, who landed in America, in 1907
J. Orton Boring, aged 36, who landed in America from London, England, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Boring (post 1700) +

Mel Boring (b. 1939), American children's author specializing in non-fiction
William Alciphron Boring (1859-1937), American architect
Wayne Boring (1905-1987), American comic book artist, best known for his work on Superman (1940s-1950s)
Edwin Garrigues Boring (1886-1968), American experimental psychologist
Samuel W. Boring, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 16th District, 1856-57
Mel Boring, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1992
June J. Boring, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1980, 1996
James R. Boring, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Benton County Democratic Party, 1939-43
Harriet Agnes Warfield Boring (1877-1963), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1936
Denzel Boring, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Benton County Democratic Party, 1967
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Boring 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: Ung durant ma vie
Motto Translation: The same while I live.

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"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)