Show ContentsFauxell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Fauxell family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the parish of Foxhale in the county of Suffolk just miles from Ipswich. 1

Vauxhall (now in Greater London) dates back to 1279 when it was known as Faukeshale. This local has the same origin and literally meant "hall of manor of a man called Falkes." 2

Early Origins of the Fauxell family

The surname Fauxell was first found in Suffolk at Foxhall, (Foxhale) which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Foxehola and was about 15 acres in size located in the Hundred of Carlford. 3 By the late 1800s, the population had increased to about 200 inhabitants and was about 2,000 acres in size. Foxholes, a parish located in the East Riding of Yorkshire was listed as Foxele, Foxhole and Foxohole in the Domesday Book having derived from the Old English term "fox-hol" and literally meant "the fox holes, the fox's earth" 2 This parish is quite a bit bigger at about 4,210 acres in size.

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. Today we typically need to look beyond the spellings of these entries and concentrate on on a phonetic appreciation of the names. William de Foxole was found in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1197; John de Foxales in the Hundredorum Rolls for Yorkshire in 1276 and John Foxholes was registered in 1406. 4

Early History of the Fauxell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fauxell research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1385 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Fauxell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fauxell Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Fauxell include Foxall, Foxhall, Foxall, Faxhall, Foxell and others.

Early Notables of the Fauxell family

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

Ireland Migration of the Fauxell family to Ireland

Some of the Fauxell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fauxell family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Fauxell were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Faxel settled in Texas in 1846; Ann and William Foxall settled in New York in 1842; Thomas Foxhale settled in Pennsylvania in 1813.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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