Devoss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Devoss arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Devoss family lived in Essex. The name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Vaux, Normandy. [1]

Early Origins of the Devoss family

The surname Devoss was first found in Essex where Robert de Vals, de Valibus, de Vaux was first listed shortly after the Conquest. [2]

However, the name was scattered throughout early Britain due to their strong Norman ancestry. Aitard de Vaux held estates in Norfolk in 1086 as did Randulph de Vaux in Cumberland. [1]

In part, this was due to the origin of the name "Vaux," a fairly common French place name which is plural of the word "val" which means in English "valley." [2] The "V" and "F" prefix was interchangeable at this time.

Early History of the Devoss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Devoss research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1606, 1605, 1675 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Devoss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Devoss Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Faux, Fawkes, Fauks and others.

Early Notables of the Devoss family (pre 1700)

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Devoss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Devoss family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Devoss or a variant listed above were: Henry Fauks arrived in Pennsylvania in 1871; John Fawkes settled in Virginia in 1739; John Faux settled in Barbados in 1634; Robert Faux settled in New England in 1698.

Contemporary Notables of the name Devoss (post 1700) +

John H. DeVoss, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1956 [3]

The Devoss 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: A Deo et Rege
Motto Translation: From God and the king.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html