Show ContentsAxelrod History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the bearers of the Axelrod family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the settlement of Hackinsall in Lancashire, in Hauxwell in the North Riding of Yorkshire, or in a now-lost place called Hawkeswell in Sevington in Kent. The surname Axelrod belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Axelrod family

The surname Axelrod was first found in Suffolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Axelrod family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Axelrod research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1400, 1404, 1524, 1712 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Axelrod History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Axelrod Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Axelrod include Haxcel, Axel, Axcel, Axall, Haukewell, Haukeswell, Haxhulle, Haxsall, Haxwell and many more.

Early Notables of the Axelrod family

More information is included under the topic Early Axelrod Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Axelrod family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Axelrod or a variant listed above: Humfry Axall, who sailed to New England in 1678; and Thomas Axall to America in 1769.


Contemporary Notables of the name Axelrod (post 1700) +

  • Robert Axelrod (1949-2019), also credited as Axel Roberts and Myron Mensah, an American actor
  • David Axelrod (1933-2017), American composer, arranger, and producer
  • Robert Axelrod (b. 1943), American professor of political science at the University of Michigan, the Arthur W. Bromage Distinguished University Professor of Political Science
  • George Axelrod (1922-2003), American screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director
  • Daniel I. Axelrod (1910-1998), American paleoecologist, botanist, and geologist
  • Julius Axelrod (1912-2004), American biochemist who won a share of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970
  • Rose Axelrod, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 7th District, 1935 1
  • Michael C. Axelrod, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1996 1
  • Leon Axelrod, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 16th District, 1954 1
  • Gene Axelrod, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for California, 1972 1
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Triangle Waist Company
  • Miss Dora Axelrod, American garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she survived the fire 2


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire


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