Boyer

Boyer is a surname of French origin that is widely distributed in Francophone regions and in North America, often associated with families of French descent. The name is used primarily as a surname but can occasionally appear as a given name in some contexts.

In computer science, Boyer is associated with two well-known algorithms developed by Robert S. Boyer and J. Strother Moore: the Boyer–Moore string-search algorithm and the Boyer–Moore voting algorithm. The string-search algorithm uses right-to-left scanning and skip heuristics to speed up pattern matching in text. The voting algorithm finds the majority element in a sequence in linear time using constant extra space, a method widely cited in algorithm design and coding interviews.

In geography and organizations, the name Boyer appears in several place names and institutions, typically named after individuals bearing the surname. These uses reflect the surname’s historical presence in various communities and commemorations.

Notable individuals with the surname include Paul D. Boyer (1918–2010), American biochemist and Nobel Prize laureate for his work on the mechanism of ATP synthase. The name continues to appear in contemporary science, arts, and public life, often honoring historical contributions of people bearing the surname.