The ancient name Dux is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a person who had a duck-like gait or bore some other resemblance to a duck. The surname Dux is derived from Old English words duk, dukke, duck, doke, and dook, which all mean duck. However, these words are often indistinguishable from the various Old English words duc, duk, duke, douc, and doke, which all came from the Old French word duc. This ultimately came from the Latin word dux, which means leader, and is a derivative of the verb ducere, which means to lead.
The surname Dux was first found in Somerset where the first record of the family was John le Duk, who was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [1]
The Rotuli Curiae Regis listed Ralph Dux of Buckinghamshire, 1198. [2] In Cheshire, two early listing were found: Robert Ducke was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1260 and later; Hugo Doke was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. [3] In the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, we found Adam Doke listed as holding lands there at that time. [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dux research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1580, 1648, 1570, 1628, 1632, 1691, 1657, 1515, 1559, 1546, 1595, 1636, 1639, 1638, 1672, 1705, 1756 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Dux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Dux were recorded, including Duck, Duche, Ducke and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Arthur Duck (1580-1648), English civilian, second son of Richard Duck by Joanna, his wife, born at Heavitree, Devonshire. He was born at Heavitree, near Exeter, Devon. the younger son of Richard Duck and his wife Joanna. His elder brother was the lawyer Nicholas Duck (1570-1628) was a prominent lawyer in the city of London. [5]
Sir John Duck, 1st Baronet (c. 1632-1691), was an English politician, Mayor of Durham. He "was apprenticed early in life to a butcher at Durham, though from an entry in the guild registers it appears that in 1657...
Another 106 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Dux family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Dux arrived in North America very early: