Bos

Origin and Meaning: The surname 'Bos' is of Dutch, Danish or German origin, with the Dutch meaning being 'forest'. The name may have been a topographical name for someone who lived near or in a forest or a habitational name for someone who lived in a house distinguished by the sign of a tree.

Distribution: The surname Bos is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is less common in the United Kingdom but can still be found among British families.

Famous Individuals:

  • Willem Bos: Dutch footballer who played as a midfielder.
  • Leonie Bos: Dutch composer and pianist.
  • Trudi von Bos: German painter known for her vibrant and colourful artwork.

Variant Spellings: Variants of the surname Bos include Boas, Boos, Boss, and Bus, among others.

Coat of Arms: The Bos family coat of arms features a design of green trees on a silver shield, symbolising the surname's origin as a reference to woodlands.

Notable Families: The Bos surname is associated with various families across Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and surrounding regions.

References:

  • Hanks, Patrick, et al. "The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland."
  • Cottle, Basil. "Penguin Dictionary of Surnames."

There are approximately 301 people named Bos in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Bos.

Region of origin: Europe

Country of origin: Poland

Language of origin: Polish

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Aden
  • Adriaan
  • Andrew
  • Bernard
  • Daniel
  • David
  • Greg
  • James
  • Johannes
  • Martin
  • Michael
  • Richard
  • Saro
  • Sean

Female

  • Barbara
  • Bernadette
  • Deidre
  • Elizabeth
  • Frances
  • Hazel
  • Jan
  • Jennifer
  • Joanne
  • Pamela
  • Sandra
  • Sarah
  • Susan
  • Wilhelmina

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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