Bovy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The ancestors of the name Bovy date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Bovy family lived in the region of Bouville, in Seine Maritime, which later changed to Bovilla, in 1212. 1

Early Origins of the Bovy family

The surname Bovy was first found in Devon, at North Bovey, a parish, in the union of Newton-Abbot, hundred of Teignbridge, Crockernwell. "The lords of this manor formerly exercised the power of inflicting punishment for capital crimes. " 2

Early History of the Bovy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bovy research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1451, 1466, 1523, 1622, 1669, 1679, 1684, 1691, 1696, 1709, 1726 and 1736 are included under the topic Early Bovy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bovy Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bovy are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bovy include: Bovey, Bovie, Bovy and others.

Early Notables of the Bovy family

Distinguished members of the family include James Boevey (1622-1696), an English merchant, lawyer and philosopher; and Sir Ralph Bovey (d. 1679), 1st Baronet Bovey, Sheriff of Warwickshire and Bedfordshire. Catharina Bovey or Boevey (1669-1726), was a "charitable lady, was born in London in 1669, her father being John Riches, a very wealthy merchant there. Catharina was a great beauty. In 'The New Atlantis' of 1736, where she is called Portia, she is described as 'one of those lofty, black, and lasting beauties that strike with...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bovy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bovy migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bovy or a variant listed above:

Bovy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Bovy, who landed in Georgia in 1735 3

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)