Rex History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Rex is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the county of Somerset. Rex is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the surname was originally derived from the Old English word risc which refers to those individuals who lived near the rushes. 1
Alternatively, the name could have been Saxon in origin, denoting "a powerful, rich, or generous disposition, from ric, rich." 2
Rixon is a village near Sturminster Newton in Dorset.
Early Origins of the Rex family
The surname Rex was first found in Cheshire where the mononym Rike was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1260. A few years later, Osbert, John de la Rixe was recorded in Somerset in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1274. In Suffolk, Ema Ricke and David Rickes were listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and later, Richard Rycke and Milcentia Ryckes were listed at Colchester in 1330 and 1351. In Devon, Roger ate Rixe was listed in 1302 and back in Somerset, William atte Ryxe was listed there in 1333. 1
Early History of the Rex family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rex research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1274 and 1333 are included under the topic Early Rex History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Rex Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Rex are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Rex include: Ricks, Rickes, Rick, Rix, Rixon, Ricke and others.
Early Notables of the Rex family
More information is included under the topic Early Rex Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Rex Ranking
In the United States, the name Rex is the 6,158th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3
Rex migration to the United States +
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Rex or a variant listed above:
Rex Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- George Rex, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 4
Rex Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- George Rex, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1895
Rex Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Fedele Rex, who immigrated to the United States, in 1901
- Hanesy Rex, aged 28, who settled in America from France, in 1904
- Charles Rex, aged 64, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
- Anna Rex, aged 67, who landed in America, in 1910
- Arthur E. Rex, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rex migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Rex Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Ernest Rex, (b. 1882), aged 5, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Roma" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 9th February 1887 5
- Miss Florence Rex, (b. 1884), aged 3, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Roma" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 9th February 1887 5
- Mr. Henry Rex, (b. 1879), aged 8, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Roma" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 9th February 1887 5
- Miss Margaret Rex, (b. 1854), aged 33, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Roma" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 9th February 1887 5
Rex 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:
Rex Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. William R. Rex, (b. 1856), aged 19, Cornish mason departing on 5th October 1875 aboard the ship "Soukar" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th January 1876 6
Contemporary Notables of the name Rex (post 1700) +
- Adam Rex (b. 1973), American illustrator and author of children's book
- Wilson Rex, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916 7
- William S. Rex, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 1912 7
- Kathryn Rex, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1944 7
- John H. Rex, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Montgomery County, 1903-08 7
- Jacob Rex, American politician, Mayor of Canton, Ohio, 1839-40 7
- George Rex, American politician, Mayor of Canton, Ohio, 1885-87 7
- George Rex, American politician, Justice of Ohio State Supreme Court, 1874-77 7
- George Rex, American politician, Member of Ohio State Senate 28th District, 1852-53 7
- Frances Rex, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1972 7
- ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Rex family +
Senghenydd colliery
- Mr. Richard Stephen Rex (b. 1866), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html