Show ContentsBos History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Bos originates from the Old Norse word "buski," meaning "bush," or "woods” thus it is classed at a toponymic surname and was most likely used by a man who lived near a prominent bush. It is equivalent to the English surname "Bush."

Early Origins of the Bos family

The surname Bos was first found in Holland.

Early History of the Bos family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bos research. The years 1450, 1516, 1634 and 1656 are included under the topic Early Bos History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bos Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bosch, van den Bosch, Bos, van den Bos, Bosse and many more.

Early Notables of the Bos family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Hieronymous Bosch (1450-1516), Dutch painter who's work is well-known for the use of fantastic imagery to illustrate moral and religious concepts

Bos World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bos is the 9,739th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Bos is ranked the 2,296th most popular surname with an estimated 2,805 people with that name. [2] And in Netherlands, the name Bos is the 13rd popular surname with an estimated 39,388 people with that name. [3]


United States Bos migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bos Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Cornelis Teunissen Bos, who landed in New York in 1631 [4]
  • Jan Willernsz Bos, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1646 [4]
  • Hendrick Bos, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1660 [4]
  • Jan Peterse Bos, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1690 [4]
Bos Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Philip Bos, who arrived in New York in 1709 [4]
  • Kasper Bos, who landed in New York in 1709 [4]
  • Hans Janz Bos, who arrived in New York in 1709 [4]
Bos Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Wilhelmina Bos, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 [4]
  • Georg Nikol Bos, who landed in Brazil in 1825 [4]
  • Franz Nikol Bos, who arrived in Brazil in 1825 [4]
  • M Bos, who arrived in America in 1844 [4]
  • Miss Bos, who landed in North America in 1846 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bos (post 1700) +

  • William S. Bos, American politician, Supervisor of Muskegon Township, Michigan, 1914-17 [5]
  • Frederik Bos (1866-1931), Dutch politician
  • Petrus Andreas Maria Bos (b. 1950), Dutch actor
  • Loek Bos (b. 1946), Dutch cartoonist, painter and sculptor
  • Jan Ritzema Bos (1850-1928), Dutch plant pathologist
  • Willem Hendrik van den Bos (1896-1974), Dutch South African astronomer
  • Alida "Alie" Johanna van den Bos (1902-2003), Dutch Olympic gymnast
  • Jasper van den Bos (1634-1656), Dutch Golden Age marine painter
  • Michiel "M.C.A." van den Bos (b. 1975), Dutch musician
  • Cornelis Willem Bos (1506-1555), Flemish engraver, printseller and book publisher
  • ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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