Surname Duboise - Meaning and Origin

Duboise: What does the surname Duboise mean?

The last name 'Duboise' is of French origin and is a geographical surname derived from the French words 'du bois,' meaning 'of the wood' or 'from the wood.' This suggests that the original holders of this surname likely lived near a wood or forest, were involved in lumber trades, or perhaps had the occupation of a forester. Geographical surnames were often used to describe a person's home, occupation, or the place they originated from. Therefore, the 'Duboise' surname reflects a link between the name bearers and their natural environment. Like many surnames of French origin, it experienced various spellings like DuBois, Dubois, Duboise, and many more. It's also important to note that surnames' meanings may have evolved or changed throughout history, having different connotations in different cultures.

Duboise: Where does the name Duboise come from?

The surname Duboise is of French origin, meaning "of the woods". It derived from the Old French words "du bois", with "du" meaning "of" and "bois" meaning "woods". This kind of name was usually given to people living near woods or who worked as a woodcutter. It is a topographic surname, which was a type of hereditary surname created from geographical features around a person.

Today, the name remains most common in France, its country of origin. However, due to historic migration and emigration, it has spread to various parts of the world, especially countries with a significant French-speaking population such as Belgium, Canada, and parts of the United States, particularly Louisiana, where French influence remains strong due to its historic ties with France. Variants of the surname may also exist, depending on the region or country, notably variations like DuBois or Dubois, which are widespread particularly in the United States and Belgium.

Variations of the surname Duboise

The surname Duboise comes from the French words "du bois," meaning "from the wood." This family name likely indicated that early family members lived near a forest.

There are many spelling variations of the surname Duboise. Some other spellings of the name include Dubois, du Bois, DuBoise, DuBois, DeBois, Deusbois, Dübois, Duboyce, Deboise, and duBoise.

It's also worth noting that families occasionally added prefixes or suffixes to their names, creating more variants. For instance, suffixes such as -son (as in Duboisson) or -ville (as in Duboisville). Similarly, prefixes like La or Le (as in LeDubois or LaDubois) were added.

Note that there is also a Dutch version of this surname - Van den Bos, which translates to “from the forest” as well.

Similar surnames that could potentially link to the Duboise family name include Wood, Woods, Forrest, and Forester, which also have origins connected to living or working near a wooded area.

Again, it's important to remember that spelling variations were often used interchangeably throughout history, largely due to inconsistencies in transcribing and translating languages. So, if you're researching family history, consider all of the above variations.

Famous people with the name Duboise

• Paul Dubois: French sculptor
• Pierre Dubois: French jurist and diplomat
• Ernest Duboise: American architect
• René Dubois: French novelist
• Christopher Duboise: American artistic gymnast
• Olivier Dubois: French ballet dancer
• Gaston Duboise: Belgian poet
• Spiv Duboise: British rock musician
• François Duboise: French visual artist
• Mike Duboise: American bass player
• Teddy Duboise: American r&b singer
• Jean-Claude Duboise: French biologist
• Olivier Dubois: French bobsledder
• Pierre Dubois: French sculptor
• Marie-Joseph Duboise: French singer
• Michel Duboise: French entrepreneur

Other surnames

DuboiceDubois