Bovenden is a municipality in the district of Göttingen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. In 2020 the population in the eight villages belonging to the municipality was 13,891. Geography Bovenden is situated on the river Leine, approx. 6 km north of Göttingen and on the north western border of Göttingen Forest. The main village of the municipality, Bovenden, is between Ostererg and the Keuperrücken of the Lieth, a small river which flows into the river Leine. On a hill east of the village Eddigehausen stand the remains of the Plesse Castle. Parts of the municipality The municipality is divided into the following villages: Billingshausen Bovenden, main village Eddigehausen Emmenhausen Harste Lenglern Reyershausen Spanbeck Furthermore, there are the former villages that have ceased to be since the Middle Ages: Rodershausen oder Rodershusen (2 km to the northwest of Bovenden) Aspe oder Aspa (1 km to the northeast of Spanbeck) Botleveshusen (0,2 km to the west of Mariaspring) Backenhusen (1,2 km to the east of Reyershausen) Sturmbeke oder Stumbeke (0,9 km to the west of Reyershausen) Population development The population of the main village Bovenden has increased ever since the second half of the 20th century: History The village of Bovenden is first mentioned in a deed by Otto I from February 2, 949, in which the future emperor certifies a barter with Hersfeld Abbey. In this first designation the toponym was Bobbenzunon. In the following years the village was also referred to as Bobbantun (1141), Bobentun (1170), and Bobentum (1191). Since the 13th century the name Boventen was commonly used and since the end of the 16th century today's designation Bovenden was introduced. The origin of the town name is contended. One derivation is the combination of the personal name Bovo or Bob(b)o with the suffix -tun. The suffix -tun is Low German and means "fence, confinement, or fenced area". Consequently, the name might refer to a settlement founded or governed by Bobo. Another interpretation is that the stem of the name is derived from bioðan (=„above“, cf. Low German boven), referring to the contrained settlement above the flood plain of the Leine. In the 12th century the aristocratic family of the "Herren von Bovenden" makes its first appearance. They are mentioned in a document in 1170 for the first time. In this document, which contains information about bestowals in the area around Bovenden to the Abbey Helmershausen, Bobo of Bovenden is