Boswell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The prestigious surname Boswell came to Britain with the Norman invasion of 1066. It is thought that the surname originated in Beauzeville, France, and that Elias de Boesevilla of this region was the first Norman settler to Britain. Many of these Norman families moved north, into Scotland in the period following the Norman Conquest of England. 1

Early Origins of the Boswell family

The surname Boswell was first found in Yorkshire, where Sir Ralph Boswell of Guntwaite, a descendant of Elias de Boesevilla, the first settler from Normandy, held lands. In the 12th century Sir Ralph lost his Yorkshire estates to the Earls of Warenne. "The family were in England in 1136, and probably from the period of the Conquest." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: John de Bosevil, Yorkshire; and Henry de Bosevil, Northamptonshire while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Agnes Bosseuill as holding lands there at that time. 3

In Norfolk, record there show Robert de Bosewill, or Bosville, 1360; Walkcline de Bosevile, 1199; Isabell Boswel, 1464; and William Boswell, 1620. 4

The family moved north to Scotland at the invitation of David, Earl of Huntingdon, where they settled in Berwickshire at Edenham. "The first of the name in Scotland was Robert de Boseuille, who witnessed several charters in the earlier part of the reign of William the Lion, and is said to have held land in Berwickshire. He was witness to a charter by Walter de Berkeley to the Abbey of Aberbrothoc c. 1170 and to the king's confirmation of same. Between 1178-80 he witnessed gift by William the Lion of a salina in Kars to the same abbey, and last appears c. 1204 when he witnessed grant of a toft in Forfar. Paganus de Bosseuilla before 1200 gave a bovate of land in Ede nlum to the Abbey of Kelso. Henry de Boysuill witnessed a charter by John, earl of Huntingdon to Norman, son of Malcolm c. 1225. Walter de Boseville was taken prisoner at Dunbar, 1296, and William de Boseville of Berwickshire and William de Boseville of Roxburghshire rendered homage, in same year. Noteworthy, too, is the fact that the names are alike spelled 'Boyville.' William de Boswill received payment of money for Sir Alexander de Seton, 1329, and Roger de Bosseuyll or Bosvyll was custumar and burgess of Edinburgh, 1368-9. Roger de Boswell married Marietta, daughter and co-heiress of Sir William Lochore of that Ilk, about middle of fourteenth century and was first of the family settled in Fife. " 5

Early History of the Boswell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boswell research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1513, 1572, 1606, 1633, 1649, 1698, 1700, 1706, 1720, 1727, 1729, 1730, 1740, 1742, 1746, 1748, 1750, 1752, 1754, 1756, 1763, 1766, 1775, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1795, 1797, 1799, 1801, 1803, 1804, 1806, 1822 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Boswell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boswell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Boswell, Boswall, Boseville, Boswald, Bosswald, Bosville, Boeseille, Bosvile, Bovill, Bowelle and many more.

Early Notables of the Boswell family

Notable among the family at this time was

Macdonald Bosville of Sleat, Chief of the MacDonalds; and James Boswell (1740-1795), famous biographer of "The Life of Dr. Johnson," the great lexicographer
John Boswell (1698-1756), was an English author, descended from a Gloucestershire family, and was born at Dorchester 23 Jan. 1698. 6
Sir William Boswell (d. 1649), was an English diplomatist and a native of Suffolk. . He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, of which he was elected fellow in 1606. He subsequently entered the di...

Boswell Ranking

In the United States, the name Boswell is the 1,344^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Boswell family to Ireland

Some of the Boswell 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.

Boswell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boswell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Boswell, from London who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
Jonathan Boswell, who arrived in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1632 8
Samuel Boswell, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 8
Thomas Boswell, who landed in Virginia in 1637 8
S. Boswell, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boswell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

David Boswell, who landed in Maryland in 1700 8
Richard Boswell, who landed in Virginia in 1703 8
John Boswell, who settled in Maryland in 1720
Charles Boswell, who settled in New England in 1740
Bush Boswell, who arrived in America in 1740 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boswell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Edward Boswell, (b. 1889), aged 16, Cornish sailer, from Mullion, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA 9

Boswell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boswell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Edward Boswell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Boswell migration to Australia +

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

Boswell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Boswell who was convicted in Chichester, Sussex, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. Thomas Boswell, English convict who was convicted in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia 11
Miss Mary Boswell, (b. 1845), aged 6, Irish settler travelling with Anne Murphy convict, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. William Boswell, (b. 1842), aged 9, Irish settler travelling with Anne Murphy convict, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Miss Isabella Boswell, (Nimmo), (b. 1807), aged 44, Scottish midwife and nurse who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 22nd April 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1852 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boswell 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:

Boswell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J Boswell, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
Mr. Boswell, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bosworth" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 24th November 1857 14
Mrs. Boswell, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bosworth" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 24th November 1857 14
Miss Mary Boswell, (b. 1841), aged 23, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 14
Mr. Benjamin Boswell, (b. 1844), aged 20, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Boswell migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Boswell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Boswell, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 16

Boswell Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Anthony Boswell who settled in Barbados in 1769

Contemporary Notables of the name Boswell (post 1700) +

John Eastburn Boswell (1947-1994), American historian and a full professor at Yale University, born in Boston, Massachusetts
Lewis Archer Boswell (1834-1909), American early aviation pioneer who some claim made the first powered heavier-than-air flight, before the Wright Brothers
John Eastburn Boswell (1947-1994), American historian and a professor at Yale University
Robert Allen "Bobby" Boswell (b. 1983), American soccer player
David Wilson Boswell (1945-2012), American Major League Baseball pitcher
James Griffin Boswell (1882-1952), American founder of the J. G. Boswell Company, the world's largest privately owned farm
Vet Boswell (1909-1988), American blues singer
David E. Boswell (b. 1949), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 7th District, 1978-83; Member of Kentucky State Senate 8th District, 1991- 17
Charles H. Boswell (1909-2006), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 11th District, 1954; Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1959-62; Postmaster at Indianapolis, Indiana, 1962-75 17
B. B. Boswell, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 17th District, 1889-92 17
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Boswell family +

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Harry Boswell (b. 1864), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

The Boswell 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: Vraye Foi
Motto Translation: True faith.

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. 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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 31st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html