This is an ancient and honourable English surname found in the spellings of Bog, Bogg, Boggers, Boggas, Boggis, Boggs, of which the later is the usual spelling, and the rare Bogeys and Bogies. Recorded evenly throughout England, although the north would seems to be its spiritual home, the surname derives from the pre 7th century words 'bog or bogeys', and as such it was originally a given name or possibly a nickname for 'bold' person. The meaning of 'bold' in 13th century terms was certainly not the same as the 20th century. It implied somebody who was 'a character or likely lad', and was clearly complimentary, or it would not have survived over the centuries when most original 'Chaucerian' surnames disappeared. Amongst the many early recordings is that of John Bogays of Wakefield in 1301, whilst in 1309 William Bogace is recorded in the same city. In 1327 Giles Bog was recorded in Essex, whilst in the same year William Bogges was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk. Subsequently in many different spellings, the surname did achieve considerable popularity in the East Anglian region. Later recordings include Nicholas Bogges of Somerset in 1377, Robert Boggas of Suffolk, in 1562, and Guye Boggish of Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, in 1623. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elyas Bogeys, which was dated 1260, The Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as 'The Frenchman', 1216 - 1272. 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.

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