Houxley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Houxley

What does the name Houxley mean?

Houxley is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Houxley family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Houxley family lived at Huxley, Cheshire, from where they derived their name. The place-name Huxley is said to derive from the Old English personal name Hucc and the word leah, which means wood, or clearing.

Early Origins of the Houxley family

The surname Houxley was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from ancient times as Lords of the Manor of Huxley. The main stem of this ancient family, however, lost most of the estates when, about 1330, Alice, daughter of John Huxley of Huxley married John de Birkenhead, an heiress who carried with her most of the family estates.

Early History of the Houxley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Houxley research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1965 and 1968 are included under the topic Early Houxley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houxley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Houxley have been found, including Huxley, Hucksley, Houxley and others.

Early Notables of the Houxley family

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

Migration of the Houxley family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Houxley were among those contributors: Thomas Huxley arrived in New York in 1880; Leversedge Huxley arrived in Nevis in 1670; Mary Huxley and her husband arrived in New England in 1753.

The Houxley 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: In Deo omnia
Motto Translation: In God are all things.