Show ContentsBuckshel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Buckshel name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Buckshel was originally derived from a family having 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 Buckshel family

The surname Buckshel 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 Buckshel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buckshel 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 Buckshel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buckshel 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 Buckshel include Boxall, Buckshell, Boockshell, Boxull, Boxell, Boxhulle, Boxhall, Baxhall, Boxnell, Baxull, Boxsell, Bochshall and many more.

Early Notables of the Buckshel 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 Buckshel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Buckshel family

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: James Boxall who arrived in Philadelphia in 1838; another James arrived 5 years later.



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


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