Show ContentsBoxer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Boxer is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person with a jaundiced complexion. The Old English word box referred to a box-tree or box-wood, and in Old English use indicated a yellowish color. The surname Boxer may also refer to residence near a box-tree. The name may also indicate residence near the settlements of Box in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, or Box Hall in Hertfordshire.

Early Origins of the Boxer family

The surname Boxer was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Box, where there is an ancient Gothic church containing twelve bells, as well as a medicinal spring, the village also begins a railway tunnel one and three quarter miles long where the line proceeds to Bath. The name appears in the thirteenth century in the Rotunda Oblitus et Finibus.

Early History of the Boxer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boxer research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1568 and 1586 are included under the topic Early Boxer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boxer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Boxer have been found, including Boxe, Box and others.

Early Notables of the Boxer family

More information is included under the topic Early Boxer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Boxer migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Boxer surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Boxer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Benjaimine Boxer, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 1
  • John Boxer, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 1
Boxer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jersey Boxer, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 1

Australia Boxer migration to Australia +

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

Boxer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Richard Boxer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stebonheath" in 1850 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Boxer (post 1700) +

  • Yelena Boxer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2000 3
  • Richard Boxer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 2000 3
  • Murry Boxer, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 4th District, 1926 3
  • Harold H. Boxer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1936 3
  • Barbara Levy Boxer (b. 1940), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from California 6th District, 1983-93; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 3
  • Rear Admiral Edward Boxer (1784-1855), British Naval officer


  1. 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)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The STEBONHEATH 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stebonheath.htm
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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