Explore the Family Name Boyd
The meaning of Boyd
1. Scottish: habitational name from the island of Bute in the Firth of Clyde, from Bòid (genitive case of Bòd, the Gaelic name of the island of Bute) or Bòideach, denoting a person from Bute. Alternatively, the name may denote descendants of a Gilla filius Boed, who appears in reference to Glasgow Cathedral in the early 12th century, perhaps from the Gaelic personal name Boite, of uncertain origin. 2. Scottish and Irish: from the Gaelic epithet buidhe ‘yellow(-haired)’. Compare Bowie. 3. Manx: from Mac Gille Buidhe ‘son of the yellow-haired lad’ (compare 2 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Boyd in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Boyd has seen a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Boyd ranked as the 164th most common surname, dropping to the 176th spot in 2010. This represents a change of -7.32 in its ranking. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of people with the Boyd surname increased from 149,476 in 2000 to 153,469 in 2010, marking a 2.67 growth. The frequency of this surname per 100,000 people also decreased slightly from 55.41 in 2000 to 52.03 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #164 | #176 | -7.32% |
| Count | 149,476 | 153,469 | 2.67% |
| Proportion per 100k | 55.41 | 52.03 | -6.1% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Boyd
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the Boyd surname according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some shifts between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as White decreased from 65.64% to 63.18%, while those identifying as Black saw a small increase from 29.94% to 30.77%. There was a significant increase in those who identified as Hispanic, growing from 1.38% to 2.16%. People identifying as Two or more races also increased, rising from 1.66% to 2.36%. Minor increases were observed in people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65.64% | 63.18% | -3.75% |
| Black | 29.94% | 30.77% | 2.77% |
| Two or More Races | 1.66% | 2.36% | 42.17% |
| Hispanic | 1.38% | 2.16% | 56.52% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.97% | 1.02% | 5.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.41% | 0.51% | 24.39% |
Boyd ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Boyd is British & Irish, which comprises 53.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.0%) and Nigerian (3.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Italian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 53.6% |
| French & German | 21.0% |
| Nigerian | 3.8% |
| Other | 21.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Boyd
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Boyd have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 81.80% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 81.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 81.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 81.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 81.30% |
What Boyd haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Boyd is R-M467, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-M467 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include A1b1-M118 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Sparks, Potter, Hurst, Proctor, Farley, Mackay, Snowden, Marquardt, Hinds, Blount.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Boyd surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Boyd have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Boyd" Surname 42.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Boyd" Surname 26.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Boyd" Surname 25.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Boyd" Surname 17.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Boyd?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Boyd are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition