Fox / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Fox / Family History

Fox / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Fox was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Fox is a nickname meaning 'the fox' from a person like this sleek, cunning animal. This name is of Celtic origin and is popular throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a John Fox of York, England, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', in the year 1273 and a William Fox who was tenant in the lands of the Abbey of Kelso, Scotland, in the year 1567. A Robertus Fox was recorded in the 'Poll Tax', of the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the year 1379 and a Thomas Hyndy and Agnes Fox were married in Saint Dionis Backchurch, London, in the year 1576. Fox families in Ireland took their name from Tadhg O'Catharnaigh, Chief of Teffia, County Meath, who was called 'Sionnach', meaning 'the fox'. The head of the Sept ever since has been known as the 'Fox'. A famous bearer of the name was Sir Patrick Fox of Moyvore who was a State interpreter of Irish in 1568.The Fox family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Fox descendants.