Boxmell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Boxmell name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Boxhulle, in Sussex, or in Boxwell, in Gloucestershire. While most sources claim the Sussex location is the point of origin, Bardsley believes "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Boxwell,' a parish in Gloucestershire, six miles from Tetbury." 1

Early Origins of the Boxmell family

The surname Boxmell was first found in Sussex at Boxhulle, "an ancient manor in Salehurst, among whose lords was Alan de Boxall, one of the earliest Knights of the Garter. " 2

"This name is clearly traced to Boxhulle, an ancient manor in Salehurst, co. Sussex, among whose lords was Alan de Buxhall, one of the earliest Knights of the Garter. In this same county the name has been queerly varied to Boxall, Boxsell, Buckshell, Baxhall." 2

Sir Alan Buxhall (1323-1381), Constable of the Tower. He was the "son of Alan Bokeshull, or Buxhull, the tenant in capite of a messuage now known as Bugzell, in the parish of Salehurst, Sussex and of other lands in the same county, and who also held the manor and church of Bryanstone, in Dorsetshire, all of which were, upon his death in 1325, inherited by his son Alan, then an infant two years old." 3

Early History of the Boxmell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boxmell research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1542, 1571, 1855, 1882, 1927 and 1945 are included under the topic Early Boxmell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boxmell Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Boxmell were recorded, including Boxall, Buckshell, Boockshell, Boxull, Boxell, Boxhulle, Boxhall, Baxhall, Boxnell, Baxull, Boxsell, Bochshall and many more.

Early Notables of the Boxmell family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Allan Boxall of Salehurst; and John Boxall (died 1571), an English churchman and Secretary of State to Mary I of England...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boxmell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boxmell family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Boxmell family emigrate to North America: James Boxall who arrived in Philadelphia in 1838; another James arrived 5 years later.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print