Show ContentsWilcoxon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wilcoxon family

The surname Wilcoxon was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332 which recorded William Wilcokson as holding lands there at that time. 1

The name is derived from 'the son of William,' from nickname "Will," and suffix "-cock." 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included many entries for the family with many spellings: Ricardus Wilkokson; Adam Wylkokson; and Willelmus Wilkocson. All held land there at that time. 2

Early History of the Wilcoxon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilcoxon research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Wilcoxon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilcoxon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wilcoxon, Wilcockson, Wilcoxson, Wilcoxin, Wilcoxen, Wilcocks and many more.

Early Notables of the Wilcoxon family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Wilcoxon family of Cumberland

Wilcoxon Ranking

In the United States, the name Wilcoxon is the 14,148th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3


United States Wilcoxon migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wilcoxon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M Wilcoxon, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • C E Wilcoxon, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1860 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Wilcoxon (post 1700) +

  • D. Etta Wilcoxon (b. 1958), American politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives, 2002
  • C. F. Wilcoxon, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 23rd District, 1862-63
  • Frank Wilcoxon (1892-1965), Irish-born American chemist and statistician
  • D. Etta Wilcoxon (b. 1958), American politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives, 2002; Candidate in primary for Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, 2009 5
  • Henry Wilcoxon (1905-1984), film actor, born in Dominica, British West Indies


The Wilcoxon Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper fidelis
Motto Translation: Always Faithful


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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