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![Show Contents]() Barxton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Barxton familyThe surname Barxton was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor in the West Riding. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Barkston, held by Ilbert de Lacy as over-lord, a Norman Baron who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Barxton familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barxton research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1607, 1611 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Barxton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Barxton Spelling VariationsMultitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Barkston, Brakston, Braxton, Brackston, Barckston, Braxton, Barxton, Barkstead, Barksted and many more. Early Notables of the Barxton familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Barkstead (died 1662), an English Major-General, convicted of Regicide of Charles I. "Three prisoners were immediately sent to England, and, as they had been previously outlawed, their trial turned entirely on the question of identity. Barkstead, with his companions, was executed on 19 April 1662. He showed great courage...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barxton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Barxton familyBecause of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Barxton or a variant listed above: Wm. Barkstead, who settled in Virginia in 1701; Carter Braxton, who came to Ontario in 1871; Charles J. Braxton, who came to Texas in 1841; Christipher Braxton, who came to Mississippi in 1798.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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