Boring
An English surname most likely based on a place name, though its exact origin is not securely established from the available evidence.
The #5,986 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,732 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical excerpts provided do not include a true dictionary entry for this surname, so its derivation has to be treated cautiously. In surname studies, Boring is usually explained as either a place-based name from a lost or minor locality, or as a form related to an older personal or byname element now hard to separate from the modern word. Because the spelling matches a common English verb, later readers sometimes assume it is descriptive, but the surname itself is older and should not be read too literally.
History
The name is uncommon in English-speaking records and appears in the United States as a small, scattered surname rather than a large, concentrated one. The modern spelling is stable, but older records may show minor variation or be difficult to distinguish from ordinary uses of the word 'boring.'
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Despite its modern everyday meaning, Boring is a genuine surname and has been borne by several unrelated families.
From the historical record
“Begging, Betting, Bringing, Boning, Bridling, Basking, Boiling, Butting, Billing, Brooding, Bitting, Barking, Biting, Beating, Branding, Brewing, Beering, Bobbing, Boring, Bud- ding, Bowling, Brawling, Bawling, Bending, Bidding, Bus- sing, Buzzing, Baking, Bucking, Bushing, Bolting, Brimming, Backing, Bossing…”
— A Grammar of American Surnames