Dixes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The generations and branches of the Dixes family share a name that has its roots in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name Dixes comes from the German derivative of Dix where it was the short form for Benedikt.

Early Origins of the Dixes family

The surname Dixes was first found in Leicestershire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Ellandune (now called Wilton.) 1

Early rolls list: Robert Dysci in the Feet of Fines of Huntingdonshire; and Alice Dixi in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273-1279 list the following entries in Cambridgeshire; Laurence Dixi; Sabina Dixi; and Adam Disce. The same rolls also list Hugo Discey and Robert Discy in Huntingdonshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls also list Robert Discy. 3

Early History of the Dixes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dixes research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1524, 1585, 1594, 1614, 1625, 1660 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Dixes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dixes Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Dixes include Dixie, Dicksey, Dicksy, Dixy and others.

Early Notables of the Dixes family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Wolstan Dixie, (1524-1594), merchant and administrator, Lord Mayor of London in 1585. He was the son of Thomas Dixie and Anne Jephson, who lived at Catworth in Huntingdonshire. His ancestors had been seated at Catworth for several generations, and had considerable estates. Wolstan, however, was the...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dixes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dixes family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dixes or a variant listed above: William Dixey who settled in Barbados in 1693; Joseph Dixey settled in Boston in 1820; Richard Dixey settled in Maryland in 1725.

The Dixes 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: Quod Dixi Dixi
Motto Translation: What I have said, I have said.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)