The Clan History

Also spelled Boswall, originates from a French placename.

The first of the name in Scotland was Robert de Boseuille who witnessed several charters of William the Lion and is said to have had land in Berwickshire.

Paganus de Bosseuilla gave a bovate of land in Edenham to the Abbey of Kelso before 1200.

Henry de Boysuill witnessed a charter by John, Earl of Huntingdon to Norman, son of Malcolm aound 1225.

Walter de Boseville was taken prisoner at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 and both William de Boseville of Berwickshire and William de Boseville of Roxburghshire rendered homage in the same year.

In 1329 William de Boswill recieved payment of money for Sir Alexander de Seton and Roger de Bosseuyll was custumar and burgess of Edinburgh between 1368 and 1369.

Roger de Boswell married Mariota, daughter and co-heiress of Sir William Lochore of that Ilk around the mid-fourteenth century and was the first one of the family to settle in Fife.

During the 17th century the Boswells married into the family of Auchinleck and later acquired the lands of Auchinleck. Alexander, 8th Laird of Auchinleck built Auchinleck House near Ayr in 1760. His son, the 9th Laird was James Boswell, the famous biographer of Dr Samuel Johnson