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Felix History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Felix History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy

The ancestors of the Felix surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in Normandy where Radulphus Fellex of Normandy 1195 and Nicholas Feliz were listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae in 1198. 1

The name can be used as either a forename or surname and literally translates from Latin as "happy, fruitful, fortunate, lucky." 2 3

Saint Felix (d. 647?), was Bishop of Dunwich. He was born and ordained in Burgundy and ventured to England inspired by a desire for missionary work. "He sought Honorius, Archbishop of Canterbury, and told him his desire, whereon Honorius sent him to East Anglia, having previously consecrated him to be bishop of that people. Felix was counted as an English saint, and his festival was fixed on 8 March. Tradition connects Felix with the monastery of Ely." 4

Early Origins of the Felix family

The surname Felix was first found in Sussex where the name was first referenced in the year 1122 when Felix Monchus held estates in that shire. At about the same time, Felix filius Hamonis, and Hamo Felix were both listed in Kent in 1229. 5

Early History of the Felix family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Felix research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1229, 1352, 1455, 1487 and 1498 are included under the topic Early Felix History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Felix 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 Felix include Felix, Felicks, Fellicks, Feelix, Feelicks, Fealix and many more.

Early Notables of the Felix family

Distinguished members of the family include

John Felix (fl. 1498), a Benedictine monk, belonging to St...

Felix Ranking

In the United States, the name Felix is the 1,031^st most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 6 However, in France, the name Felix is ranked the 656^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,232 people with that name. 7

Felix 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:

Felix Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jon Felix, who landed in Virginia in 1653 8

Felix Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Magdalena Felix, who arrived in Carolina in 1734 8
Barbara Felix, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734
Michael Felix, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 8
Nicolaus Felix, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 8
Stephani Felix, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1768 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Felix Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Don Felix, who arrived in Baltimore in 1823
A Felix, aged 15, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1826 8
Henry Felix, who settled in Rhode Island in 1833
Francis Felix, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 8
Gustav Adolph Felix, who landed in New York, NY in 1852 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Felix migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Felix Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Catharina Felix, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Isaac Felix, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Maria Felix, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Philip Felix, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Felix migration to Australia +

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

Felix Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Felix Felix, (b. 1812), aged 24, British cook who was convicted in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa for 10 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9

Felix 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:

Felix Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Felix, American settler travelling from San Francisco aboard the ship "Dakota" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 11th January 1873 10
Mrs. Felix, American settler travelling from San Francisco aboard the ship "Dakota" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 11th January 1873 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Felix (post 1700) +

Susan Duhan Felix (1937-2023), American ceramic artist who was well known for creating ceramics using pit firing
Allyson Felix (b. 1985), American Olympic track and field athlete who won four gold and two silver at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 games
Paul Felix, American politician, Mayor of Kenner, Louisiana, 1916-20 11
Otis L. Felix, American politician, Member of Virgin Islands legislature, 1975-78 11
Louis E. Felix, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 9th District, 1921 11
John Henry Felix, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Hawaii, 2008 11
John A. Felix, American Republican politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 9th District, 1980 11
Fanette L. Felix, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 2000 11
Dennis J. Felix Sr., American politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Warren, Michigan, 1995 11
David H. H. Felix, American politician, Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 6th District, 1934; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1938, 1940 11
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html