Bosden

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from Bosden, a hamlet in the parish of Hazel Grove and Bramhall in Cheshire, which was recorded as "Bosedon" in 1248 in the "Inquisitiones post mortem" of the county and as "Bosedun" in 1286, in the County Court, City Court and Eyre Rolls of Chester. The placename is composed of the Germanic personal name "Bosa", derived from the Middle High German "boese", reckless, daring with the Olde English element "dun", hill, mountain hence "Bosa's hill or mountain". The surname itself is first recorded in the mid 16th Century. Locational names were originally given to the Lord of the Manor or as a means of identification to those who left their place of birth to seek employment elsewhere, Isabell Bosden married Richard Morris on July 24th 1611, at St. Bartholomew the Less, London and Anne Bosden married George Lane on October 27th 1640 at Gawsworth in Cheshire. A Coat of Arms was granted to a Bosden family and depicts a black fess between three Roman S's on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Boosseden, which was dated July 6th 1567, christening witness at St. Martin Orgar and St. Clement Eastcheap, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, "Good Queen Bess", 1558-1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.