Show ContentsHowxley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Howxley family

The surname Howxley was first found in Lancashire where William de Hauekesle was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1246. Later, Richard de Hauekeslowe was listed in Cheshire in 1321. The name is originally from Hawkesley Hall in King Norton, Worcestershire and literally meant 'dweller at the clearing frequented by hawks.' 1

Alternatively the name could have originated in Hauxley, in the parish of Warkworth, union of Alnwick, E. division of Coquetdale ward, N. division of Northumberland. 2 3

Early History of the Howxley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howxley research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1384, 1386, 1387, 1390, 1393, 1408, 1424, 1425, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Howxley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howxley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Howxley has been recorded under many different variations, including Hawksley, Hawkesley, Hakesley, Horkesley, Horksley, Haxley, Hawxley, Howxley and many more.

Early Notables of the Howxley family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Haxey (d. 1425), Treasurer of York minister, may have been a native of Haxey, in the isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire, to which village he left benefactions in his will. In 1384 he became rector of Pulham in Norfolk, which he exchanged in the same year for the living of St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey in the city of London. Early in 1386 he was presented by the king to the rectory of Toppesfield in Essex, but resigned it after half a year...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Howxley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Howxley family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Howxley or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.


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