Surname Boardman - Meaning and Origin
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Boardman: What does the surname Boardman mean?
The surname Boardman is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has multiple interpretations. It is an occupational name which was originally given to a person who made or sold wooden boards, deriving from the Old English "bord," meaning board or table, and 'mann', meaning 'man'. Over time, the name was used to denote someone who played board games, particularly chess or checkers. Another interpretation refers to one who lived on 'bordland', land that was retained by the lord of the manor for his own use. It may also refer to a person who served meals (laid the board) in a medieval household. Like many surnames, specific meanings are extracted from the historical and cultural contexts in which the name was used. As such, the exact definition can be challenging to pinpoint.
Order DNA origin analysisBoardman: Where does the name Boardman come from?
The surname Boardman is of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to medieval times in England. Predominantly, it was an occupational name, derived from the Old English term "bord", meaning table, and "mann", meaning man. The term "bordmann" was used to denote a person who made tables or a person who served at the table in halls and mansions, indicative of a house servant.
It's common to find a high concentration of individuals with the surname Boardman in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand today. The largest population of individuals with this surname reportedly resides in the United States. However, the name is still prevalent in its country of origin, England. The northern regions of England, including Lancashire and Greater Manchester, are among the areas where this surname is most commonly found. Other places with a significant number of Boardmans include the southern counties of England like Hampshire and Surrey. Overall, the distribution of the Boardman surname has spread worldwide due to historical emigration patterns from the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Boardman
The name Boardman is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from an occupational name for a carpenter. Variations of this name could have been spelled differently based on the region, accent, or illiteracy of the name's holders, making spelling across documents inconsistent.
Some possible variations include Bordman, Boreman, Boordman, and Borman. Bordeman and Boardmen might also be encountered in some old documents. The surname might have also been transformed into similar sounding names such as Borden, Bordman, Bortman, or Burdman.
It's also possible that those who lived in the town of Borden or Bordon took on a variant of the name connected to their location, even though they may not have had any familial relationship with other Boardmans.
However, it's essential to conduct a comprehensive genealogical research or DNA test to trace and confirm actual connections. There might be several families bearing the Boardman surname or its variants without any actual blood relation due to the reasons already specified earlier.
Famous people with the name Boardman
- Chris Boardman: A former British racing cyclist who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics and broke the world one-hour record three times.
- Eleanor Boardman: An American film actress of the silent movie era.
- Frank E. Boardman: A US Naval officer known for his exploration of the Arctic Circle.
- Samuel B. Boardman: The first Superintendent of Oregon State Parks.
- Sid Boardman: A former footballer from England.
- Sarah Boardman: A notable American missionary in Burma.
- Tom Boardman: A former British auto racing driver who won the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship.
- George Dana Boardman: An American missionary who was the first American missionary to Burma and Thailand.
- Troy Boardman: A former New Zealand cricketer who played in six first-class matches for the Canterbury cricket team in 1993–94.
- Carl Boardman: A British designer and former professional track cyclist.
- Peter Boardman: A British mountaineer and author.
- George Boardman the Younger: A professor of Didactic Theology at Newton Theological Institution.
- Bob Boardman: A famous American folk musician.