Duboys History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The name Duboys was originally derived from the Old French "bois," which meant "wood." The name was no doubt originally used in France by someone living or working in the woods. 1

Early Origins of the Duboys family

The surname Duboys was first found in Essex where William de Bois was listed as holdings land there at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086.

However, due to the literal translation of the name into English, we cannot presume that there is one main branch from which all others have evolved. By example, "De Bois-Arnaud, hereditary stewards of the counts of Breteuil, sires of Poilly," signatures appeared in the charter of William Fitz-Osborne to the Lire Abbey during the reign of William I. 2

De Bois-Herbert who were barons of Halberton, Devon were listed there in 1050. Apparently they flourished in Dorset, but the Devon record was a branch of the family at that time.

A little further to the north in Buckinghamshire, De Bois-Robert from whom Robert de Bois descended held estates there in 1086. 2

Another source notes that some of the family were Protestant Huguenots who fled to England from Brittany settling in Thorney, Canterbury, Norwich and London. 1

Early History of the Duboys family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Duboys research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1296, 1327, 1388, 1396, 1447, 1533, 1541, 1560, 1571, 1589, 1596, 1599, 1607, 1612, 1619, 1625, 1643, 1644, 1645, 1656, 1663, 1664, 1667, 1678, 1710, 1718, 1736 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Duboys History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duboys Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bois, De Bois, Dubois, Boyes, Boys, Boyse, Boice and many more.

Early Notables of the Duboys family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Boys (fl.1388), Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle, John Boys (died 1447), Member of Parliament for Middlesex; John Boys (died 1533), Member of Parliament for Sandwich; John Boys (1571-1625), Dean of Canterbury from 1619 to 1625; and his nephew, Edward Boys (1599-1667), an English divine; William Boys (1541-1596), an English politician, Member of the Parliament of England for Queenborough in 1589; John Boys (1607-1664), Royalist captain, Governor of Donnington...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Duboys Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Duboys family to Ireland

Some of the Duboys 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.

Duboys migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Duboys Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jacques Duboys, who arrived in Canada in 1664

Contemporary Notables of the name Duboys (post 1700) +

Lewis Duboys, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1785-87 3
Cyrus H. DuBoys, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 19th District, 1922 3

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html