Moxham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Moxham family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the name Megg, which is a pet form of the female personal name Margaret. The name Moxham is a metronymic surname, which is derived from the name of the mother, and features the common patronymic suffix -son, which was most popular in the north of England and superseded other patronymic suffixes during the 13th century. Megge was first listed in Yorkshire in 1254. 1 To the south east, John Megge was recorded in the Berkshire in 1275 and later, Robert Megges was found in the Feet of Fines for Wiltshire in 1357. 1

Early Origins of the Moxham family

The surname Moxham was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat. Commonly used surname in ancient times, Meg-son was literally the son of Meg or Margaret. The name proliferated in Oxfordshire where Johannes (John) filius Megge was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Later Adam Meggesone was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls also included: Johannes Megge, Oxfordshire; Robert Megge, Bedfordshire; and John Megge, Berkshire. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Johannes Mekson; Robertus Megson; and Johannes Megson. 2

However, the popularity of the name diminished and by the year 1500 had become somewhat obscure. Modifications such as Meggison emerged and included others as Meggotson, and so on but the main stem of the family name moved north to Northumberland. It was here at Whalton that a " barony was conferred by the Conqueror upon Walter Fitz-William, to be held by the service of three knights' fees. It was afterwards possessed by the Fitz-Rogers, Fitz-Roberts, and others 3 in the reign of James I. was held by the crown 3 and was subsequently granted to the Meggison family. " 3

"The Megsons have contracted their name from Megginson, another name characterising this part of Yorkshire. On the tombstone of the wife of Francis Megson, who was buried in St. Olave's churchyard, York, in 1718, there is, or was, the following inscription: -

'Under this stone, crammed in a hole, does lye

The best of wives that ever man laid by.' " 4

Early History of the Moxham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moxham research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1578 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Moxham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moxham 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 Moxham include Megson, Meggson, Meggison, Meggeson, Megginson, Meiggs, Meggenson, Meggy and many more.

Early Notables of the Moxham family

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

Moxham migration to the United States +

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 Moxham were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Moxham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Moxham, who arrived in New England in 1675 5

Moxham migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Moxham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Moxham, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mr. George Moxham, (b. 1806), aged 29, British Ploughman and Farm Labourer who was convicted in Gloucester, England for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 7
Thomas Moxham, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "David McIvor"

Contemporary Notables of the name Moxham (post 1700) +

David Moxham, American actor, known for The Leftovers (2014), Revolution (2012) and Love's Labour's Lost (2016)
Dan Moxham, British director and writer from Bristol who won the Dillon Gallery Award, Belfast and the Digital Arts Studios Award, Belfast, 2016
Jennifer Moxham, British actress and producer, known for Payback Season (2012), To Trend on Twitter (2018) and Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love (2010)
Andrew Moxham (b. 1976), Canadian two-time Edmonton International Film Festival Award winning cinematographer from Toronto, known for Hastings Street (2014), White Raven (2015) and Hot Rod (2007)
George Churchill Moxham (1892-1955), Canadian businessman and politician from Halifax, Nova Scotia who represented Vancouver Centre in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1953 to 1955
Roy Moxham (b. 1939), British writer, author of historical books highlighting little known historical facts from Eveham, Worcestershire
Thomas Robert "Tom" Moxham (1860-1916), Australian politician from Parramatta, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Parramatta (1901–1916)
Philip Moxham and Stuart Moxham, Welsh co-founders of Young Marble Giants, a post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835