Show ContentsLaxton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Laxton name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Laxton was originally derived from a family having lived in the region of Laxton. Laxton is a habitation names from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Laxton family

The surname Laxton was first found in Laxton, a small village in the civil parish of Laxton and Moorhouse which dates back to the Domesday Book [1] where it was first listed as Laxintone, and probably came from Anglo-Saxon Leaxingtun, which literally meant "farmstead or estate of the people of a man called Leaxa." [2] Laxton Castle is a late 11th- or early 12th-century Motte-and-bailey medieval castle located north of the village. Laxton Hall was originally built as a three-gabled brick manor house in the 1400s. Laxton is also a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but this latter village has remained small over the years.

Early History of the Laxton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laxton research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1376, 1442, 1500, 1544 and 1556 are included under the topic Early Laxton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laxton Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Laxton include Laxton, Laxington, Lexton and others.

Early Notables of the Laxton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir William Laxton (c. 1500-1556), born in Oundle, Northamptonshire

Laxton Ranking

In the United States, the name Laxton is the 11,837th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3]


United States Laxton migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Laxton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Sarah Laxton, a bonded passenger who settled in Maryland in 1741

Australia Laxton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Laxton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Fanny Laxton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Susannah" in 1849 [4]
  • James Laxton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Susannah" in 1849 [4]
  • John Laxton, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

Contemporary Notables of the name Laxton (post 1700) +

  • Brett William Laxton (b. 1973), American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1999 to 2000
  • William Harry "Bill" Laxton (b. 1948), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in 1970
  • Cyril Laxton (1910-2006), and his brother Reg (1912-2006) were two of Britain's top swimming and diving coaches
  • Thomas Laxton (1830-1893), English plant breeder and a correspondent of Charles Darwin, best known for his hybridisation of peas and for Laxton's Superb, a variety of apple that was developed in 1897
  • Robert Laxton (b. 1944), English politician, member of Parliament for Derby North
  • Lady Joan Pearl Laxton, English noble
  • Bob Laxton (b. 1944), English politician, Member of Parliament for Derby North (1997-2010)
  • David Laxton, Canadian politician, Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
  • Charles 'Charlie' Laxton (1890-1964), Australian rules footballer who played from 1912 to 1921 for Collingwood
  • Richard Laxton (b. 1967), British film director
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Stewart Thomas Laxton (1923-1941), Australian Sick Berth Attendant 2nd Class from Pascoe Vale, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [5]


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUSANNAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Susannah.htm
  5. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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