Huxly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Huxly

What does the name Huxly mean?

The name Huxly was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Huxly 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 Huxly family

The surname Huxly 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 Huxly family

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

Huxly Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Huxley, Hucksley, Houxley and others.

Early Notables of the Huxly family

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

Migration of the Huxly family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Huxly or a variant listed above: 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 Huxly 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.