Explore the Family Name Bovey
The meaning of Bovey
English: 1. (Devon): habitational name from either of two places in Devon, Bovey Tracey or North Bovey, which take their names from the Bovey river, on which they stand. 2. perhaps occasionally from the Middle English personal name Bove (from the Old Norse Bófi, Bovi, Bove, a nickname from bófi ‘knave, rogue’), or from the Scandinavian name directly.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bovey in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bovey has experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, "Bovey" was ranked 47,120th in commonality among surnames, but by 2010 it had slipped to 48,995th – a decrease of almost 4%. Interestingly, while the name's ranking fell, the actual count of individuals with the Bovey surname increased slightly, from 424 in 2000 to 430 in 2010, representing an increase of 1.42%. However, as a proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of the surname dropped by 6.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #47,120 | #48,995 | -3.98% |
| Count | 424 | 430 | 1.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.15 | -6.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bovey
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts among those bearing the Bovey surname between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White increased slightly, from 88.68% to 90.70%, while the Hispanic population also rose, from 5.66% to 6.74%. Meanwhile, those reporting two or more races declined from 1.42% to 1.16%. Notably, no individuals with this surname identified as Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2010, which is a change for the Black category that had a representation of 3.07% in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.68% | 90.7% | 2.28% |
| Hispanic | 5.66% | 6.74% | 19.08% |
| Two or More Races | 1.42% | 1.16% | -18.31% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 3.07% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |