As described in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

BOILEAU. On a tablet in Ketteringham church, Norfolk, to the memory of John Peter Boileau, Esq., it is stated that " he was the son of Simeon B., Esq., merchant, of Dublin, whose father, Charles Boileau, baron of Castleuau and Sainte Croix, in the province of Languedoc, in France, fled to England in 1691, on the persecution of the Protestant religion." The family descend in an unbroken line from Etienue Boileau, first grand provost of Paris in 1250 ; and they were early professors and zealous defenders of the reformed faith. Another branch of the family fled from France into Italy to avoid persecution, and subsequently -sn-ote themselves Bevelaqua. The Duke of Bevelaqua bears the same arms as the English baronet, and both names are of course equivalent to our indigenous Drinkwater.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


Region of origin: Europe

Country of origin: France

Language of origin: French

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