Origin & History
A Frisian topographic surname from bos (forest, wood) and the Frisian suffix -ma indicating origin or family. Identified a family living at or near a wooded area — significant in the Netherlands where forested land was relatively scarce and therefore notable. Related to the more common Bos and Bosma variants.
Geographic Distribution
Characteristic of Friesland and Groningen, with the -ma suffix confirming Frisian origin.
Notable Bearers
The Bosma name appears in Frisian church registers from the 1600s onward, typically associated with farming families in areas bordering surviving woodland areas in Friesland.
Pronunciation
Genealogy Research
Like all Frisian -ma surnames, Bosma research begins at Tresoar in Leeuwarden. The CBG's online database also allows surname frequency mapping that can confirm geographic concentration.
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