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Show ContentsVaux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Vaux reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Vaux family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Vaux family lived in Vaux or Vallibus, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Vaux family

The surname Vaux was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat in Gillesland from ancient times. They were descended from Harold de Vaux, Lord of Vaux in Normandy who came into England at the time of the Conquest accompanied by his three sons, Hubert, Rannulf, and Robert. Their main seats became the Lords of Gillesland, the Lords of Tryermayne, and in Vaux in Normandy. "From Hubert descended the Barons Vaux of Gillesland, which line terminated in an heiress, who carried the Barony of Gillesland to the family of Multon, from which it passed to that of Dacre. Ranulph, the second son, was ancestor to the Vaux's of Tryermayne, and maternally of Lord Brougham and Vaux. Robert, the third son, was the ancestor of the Lords of Harrowden." 1

Robert de Vals, de Valibus, de Vaux was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Essex and Norfolk. 2 Robert de Wals, de Valllbus was recorded in 1134-1140 and in 1188 as holding lands in Norfolk. Ralph de Vaus was a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185 and Richard de Vause was recorded in the 12th century in Leicestershire. 3

Specifically, Watton in Norfolk was an ancient home of the family. "This place is of considerable antiquity, and prior to 1204 appears to have had the grant of a market, which during that year was suspended by writ of inquiry, but was soon after restored to Oliver de Vaux, Lord of the Manor." 4

Records of the family were found in St. Ive, Cornwall. "The manor of Dinnerdake, or Dunerdake, was at a very early period in the family of Vaux, by one of whom it was forfeited about the year 1450. It was granted by Edward IV. to Avery Conburgh." 5

Early History of the Vaux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vaux research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1509, 1519, 1523, 1535, 1556, 1559, 1562, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1591, 1595, 1605, 1635, 1637, 1661, 1663 and 1969 are included under the topic Early Vaux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vaux Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Vose, Voase, Vaux, Voxe, Voaux, Vokes and others.

Early Notables of the Vaux family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden (c. 1460-1523), an English soldier and courtier and early member of the House of Commons; Thomas Vaux, 2nd Baron Vaux of Harrowden KB (1509-1556), an English...
  • Anne Vaux (fl. 1605-1635), was an English recusant, the third daughter of William Vaux, third Baron Vaux of Harrowden in Northamptonshire. 6

United States Vaux migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Vaux name or one of its variants:

Vaux Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Leonard Vaux, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 7
  • John Vaux who landed in America in 1679
Vaux Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jean Pierre De Vaux, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 7
Vaux Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Vaux, who landed in New York in 1826 7
  • James Vaux, who arrived in New York in 1834 7
  • J. Vaux settled in San Francisco, California in 1850

Canada Vaux migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vaux Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Vaux, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 16th August 1847 8

Australia Vaux migration to Australia +

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

Vaux Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Vaux, (b. 1765), aged 32, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1821 9
Vaux Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William K. Vaux, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 10
  • James Oten Vaux, aged 27, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" 11

New Zealand Vaux migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Vaux Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Vaux, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Ironsides" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 18th June 1872 12
  • Child Vaux, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Ironsides" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 18th June 1872 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Vaux (post 1700) +

  • Richard Vaux, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 9th District, 1928 13
  • Richard Vaux (1816-1895), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1856-58; Defeated, 1854, 1858; Member of Pennsylvania State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 3rd District, 1890-91 13
  • Harve E. Vaux, American politician, Mayor of Mt. Vernon, Washington, 1953 13
  • Bert Vaux (b. 1968), American professor of phonology and morphology at the University of Cambridge
  • Roberts Vaux (1786-1836), American lawyer, jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist
  • Richard Vaux (1816-1895), American politician, Mayor of Philadelphia (1856–1858), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania (1890-1891)
  • Calvert Vaux (1824-1895), British-born, American architect and landscape designer, best known as the co-designer of New York's Central Park
  • Samuel De Vaux, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Niagara County, 1830 14
  • James Hardy Vaux (1782-1819), English-born convict from Surrey who was transported to Australia three different times, author of Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux in 1819, the first full length autobiography and first dictionary written in Australia
  • Jacques-Alexandre-François Allix de Vaux, Count de Freudenthal, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 15
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 59)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  10. State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
  11. South Australian Register Tuesday 1st May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) David Malcolm 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/davidmalcolm1855.shtml
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  15. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) Jacques-Alexandre-François Vaux. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
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