This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Boss family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Boss Family History

Boss Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Bos from ancient Germanic Boso based on the element bōs ‘bad evil wild angry’. English: nickname for a hunchback from Middle English Old French boce bos ‘protuberance swelling’ (compare Bossard).

German (also Böss): from a short form of the personal name Borkhart, a variant of Burkhart. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine).

Possibly also an Americanized form of South German Bös (see Bos). Danish: variant of Buus.

Americanized form of French Bourgeois.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Boss family from?

You can see how Boss families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Boss family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Boss families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 112 Boss families living in London. This was about 27% of all the recorded Boss's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Boss families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Boss surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Boss ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Boss. 28% of Boss men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Boss women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Boss were French Polisher and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Boss | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    28%
  • Travelling Showman
    12%
  • Glass Merchant
    12%
  • French Polisher
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housekeeper
    4%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Boss family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 75,000 census records available for the last name Boss. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Boss census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Boss

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Boss. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Boss immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Boss. For the veterans among your Boss ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Boss military records

You've only scratched the surface of Boss family history

Discover More

What is the average Boss lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Boss life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Boss in 1944 was 62, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Boss

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Boss ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Boss family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial