Surname Boyens - Meaning and Origin
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Boyens: What does the surname Boyens mean?
The last name Boyens is of German origin, and is often associated with the noble German family of Boyens.The Boyensen surname first originated in the Saxony region of Germany, in what was formerly known as East Prussia. It was likely derived from the Old German personal name "Boio" or "Boioald", and was eventually adapted into the shorter surname Boyens.
The Boyens family were historically involved in farming and agriculture, generally living off the land and their pastures. In later years they moved on from generation to generation, some may have stayed in the same area, while others moved away from the Saxony region to other areas of Germany or beyond.
In modern times, the last name Boyens still holds strong connections to Germany and to the agricultural life it has become associated with. The last name is still scattered around Germany today, although those with the name may have moved to other areas of the world, including countries like the UK, USA, and Canada.
The Boyens last name is closely associated with a hardworking and humble lifestyle, as well as a strong sense of family and community, which is typical of German culture. Those with this last name typically maintain a strong identity with German heritage and culture, and continue to uphold the same values and traditions that originated in Saxony.
Order DNA origin analysisBoyens: Where does the name Boyens come from?
The last name Boyens is most commonly found today in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg. This suggests a historical origin in this region, likely from and old Germanic-Nordic word meaning "dweller in the bend/curve of the river." This indicates that the Boyens were likely an ancient people with a predominantly seafaring background, given the abundance of rivers in the region.
More specifically, the name Boyens is found most frequently in the Flanders region of Belgium, as well as coastal towns along the Scheldt River in The Netherlands. In the Netherlands, it is also found in the Noord-Holland province where it is pronounced “Boyens” and in the Zuid-Holland province where it is sometimes pronounced “Boye” or “Boyhals.” By comparison, it is very rare in the rest of The Netherlands.
The name Boyens is also found in Luxembourg, typically spelt with an “en” instead of an “ens” at the end. This pronunciation is believed to be a common alternative to the original Germanic-Nordic name, suggesting a long history of spelling variants.
Given its geographical predominance in the Low Countries, Boyens is often associated with Dutch culture and the Dutch language, although the language and culture of the Boyens likely predates its modern Dutch namesake. This emphasizes the unique cultural background behind the name and explains its wide geographical spread across the region.
Variations of the surname Boyens
The surname Boyens is a patronym of the masculine given name Boye which originated from the medieval diminutive of the personal name Bovo, which is derived from Germanic elements "bogin" and "wig", meaning "war". The surname Boyens is first recorded in the 14th century, and is most commonly found today in Flanders, the German state Nordrhein-Westfalen, and the Dutch province of North Holland.
The variants and spellings of Boyens include Boyen, Boyenssen, Boijen, Boijens, Boijensen, Boijensz, Boijenssen, Boijezon, Boijezoon, Boijon, Boyle, Boylen, Boyelinck and Boyelionck. There are also patronymic surnames attached to the Boyens surname, such as Boyens' sons, and Boyle's son.
The Dutch surname Boyens is shared as a variant of the German surname Bohling, and Bohlens, and by extension Böllings, Bühling, Böhlings, and Bühlings. There are also variant spellings for Boyens, including Beijen, Beyen, Beijens, Beyens, Beijensen, Beyenssen,and Beijezoon.
The surname Boyens is most commonly found in Flanders, as well as North Holland, Belgium, German, South Africa, America, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Boyens
- Emily Boyens, actress
- Helmut Boyens, media manager
- Lynne Boyens, American figure skater
- Barton Boyens, American swimmer
- Joe Boyens, American screenwriter
- Larry Boyens, pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Jack Boyens, American football coach
- Jean-Michel Boyens, Belgian swimmer
- Mark Boyens, American actor
- Susan Boyens, American novelist and short story writer
- Richard Boyens, English footballer
- John Boyens, New Zealand rugby league player
- Gary Boyens, Australian rugby league player
- Karen Boyens, New Zealand field hockey player
- Brett Boyens, Canadian ice hockey player
- Kevin Boyens, former Canadian soccer player
- Rachel Boyens, Canadian mountain biker