Surname Bossenberry - Meaning and Origin

Bossenberry: What does the surname Bossenberry mean?

The last name Bossenberry is of Dutch origin and is derived from the Dutch word “bos”, meaning forest. It likely refers to someone who lived or worked in a forest or near a wooded area or who was associated with the production of timber. It was probably adopted by the family some time during the Middle Ages.

The name combines two elements: “bos” and “berry” which likely refers to a type of fruit or bush. This specific combination of elements within a name suggests that the holders of the Bossenberry surname likely specialized in gathering and cultivating wild plants and fruits in the forests in which they lived.

Over time, it appears that Bossenberry was either shortened to Bossen, or split into two separate names, Bossen and Berry. The Bossen family name is common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France.

Regardless of its origins, the Bossenberry name has an interesting history that provides insight into the lives of the individuals who held it. The name reveals that these individuals were likely connected to the forests of the Low Countries in some way, and that they likely specialized in gathering and producing wild plants and fruits.

Bossenberry: Where does the name Bossenberry come from?

The last name Bossenberry is most commonly found in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau reports there were 657 people with the last name Bossenberry in the year 2000, with five states having more than one hundred of such people, namely: Wisconsin (180), Minnesota (156), Ohio (121), Michigan (131), and Pennsylvania (157). Because it is more common in the Midwest, the states most likely to have the greatest concentrations of Bossenberries would be Wisconsin and Minnesota, with some families still living in and around those areas.

The family name of Bossenberry is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, where it likely developed from a local place or geographical feature. There are believed to be some descendants in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. However, it does not appear that the Bossenberry name is still in use today, as its popularity has greatly diminished in those countries in the last hundred years.

In the American Midwest, Bossenberry was a common name among immigrants in the 19th century. This is evidenced by the number of residents in the region with this last name. The Bossenberry family holds a reunion in Michigan, drawing descendants from all across the Midwest. This indicates that the name is still borne within the extended family there.

The last name Bossenberry may have all but disappeared in Europe, but it is still remembered in the United States, primarily among families originally from the Midwest. It may not be as prominent today as it was in previous generations, but it’s still alive in the American Midwest.

Variations of the surname Bossenberry

The Bossenberry surname is derived from Dutch or German words, and has several variants, spellings and others surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of the surname is Boschenberg, which is a German form of the name. Other variants include: Bausenberg, Bauschenberg, Bossenberger, Bouschenberg, and Bouschenbergen, among others.

The spelling of the surname had to be adapted in English-speaking countries when Dutch and German immigrants came to reside there. Some examples of the changed spelling are Boschemberg, Bausemberg, Bausenberger, Bousenberg, BSNBsmall and Bossenbery.

In the United States, the Bossenberry surname may also have been Americanized to Bossonberry, Brassenberry, Brassenberg, Bowsenberry and Bowsenberg, as these are the names that appear in records in the US.

Variations on the surname may also have evolved as immigrants further moved from one place to another, as it was typical for them to localize their surnames to fit the culture of their new residence.

Many surnames of the same origin, derived from the same root words, can include Bos, Boss, Bossen, Bou, Bose, Bassen, Baus, Bau, and Boos, as well as stammerings like Boussome.

In Germany, a variant surname of Bossenberry would be Bussenberry, while in Flanders it would be Boessenbergh. In Switzerland, a name of the same origin would be Busenberg.

Altogether, there are many variations of the Bossenberry surname, both variations in spelling and in origin, which demonstrate the adaptability of the surname to both physical and linguistic relocation of an immigrant’s family.

Famous people with the name Bossenberry

• Dale Bossenberry: American entertainment executive and marketing consultant
• Kevin Bossenberry: American songwriter and producer
• Sam Bossenberry: American musician
• Victoria Bossenberry: English actress
• Peter Bossenberry: American actor
• Daphne Bossenberry: Canadian actress
• Marian Bossenberry: Australian author
• Vicky Bossenberry: American singer-songwriter
• David Bossenberry: British TV and radio presenter
• Joanna Bossenberry: American screenwriter and producer

Other surnames

bossenberger