Dixy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Dixy has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from the German derivative of Dix where it was the short form for Benedikt.

Early Origins of the Dixy family

The surname Dixy 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 Dixy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dixy 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 Dixy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dixy Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dixy include Dixie, Dicksey, Dicksy, Dixy and others.

Early Notables of the Dixy 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 Dixy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dixy family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: William Dixey who settled in Barbados in 1693; Joseph Dixey settled in Boston in 1820; Richard Dixey settled in Maryland in 1725.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dixy (post 1700) +

Dixy Lee Ray (1914-1994), American Democratic Party politician, Member, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1972-75; Chair, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1973-75; Governor of Washington, 1977-81; Defeated in primary, 1980 4

The Dixy 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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html