Heathcox Surname History

Origins Available:
England

The ancient roots of the Heathcox family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Heathcox comes from when the family lived in either of the parishes named Heathcote in Derbyshire and Warwickshire. Of the two, we found more information about the Derbyshire parish. Dating back to the 12th century, this parish literally meant "cottage on a heath," from the Old English "haeth" + "cot." 1

Early Origins of the Heathcox family

The surname Heathcox was first found in Derbyshire where the name could have been derived from someone who lived at "the heath-cottage" or "the cot on this heath." 2

The first record of the family was that of Godfrey de Hetcota who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1166. Years later, Ralph de Hethcote was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1227. 3 Later again, Walter Hathecok was listed in Essex in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 4

Early History of the Heathcox family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heathcox research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1609, 1652, 1665, 1689, 1711, 1713, 1715, 1719, 1721, 1722, 1733 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Heathcox History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heathcox Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Heathcox has appeared include Heathcote, Heathcoat, Heathcoat and others.

Early Notables of the Heathcox family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baronet (1652-1733), Governor of the Bank of England and Lord Mayor of London; and his brother, Caleb...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heathcox Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heathcox family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Heathcox arrived in North America very early: John Heathcoate settled in Jamaica in 1685; Jasper Heathcoat settled in New England in 1850; Edward Heathcote settled in Virginia in 1721; along with James.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)