Oxford Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Oxford Origin:

England

Origin of Oxford:

Oxford is a strange and old surname from England. It is listed as Oxford, and the original form is Oxenford, it is a locational name from the city of Oxford, the province town of Oxfordshire. The regional name derives from the old English pre 7th Century word “oxa”, which means ox or bull, and “ forda” which means the flat river and is a crossing applicable for traffic, and hence it means bulls pass over. The region name was first listed as “Oxnaford” in the popular registers of Anglo-Saxon in the year 912 A.D and after sometime it was listed as “Oxeneford” in the Domesday Book of 1086. The only way for expanding regional surnames is when a former citizen of a place migrates from one place to another for a search of a job, and they are identified by their place of birth. Under this condition the surname development since 1086 contained Walter de Oxenforde in the city of London in 1319, Johannes de Oxenford of Yorkshire in the Poll Tax rolls of 1379 and Ann Oxford, who named at St Brides Parish, Fleet Street, in the city of London in 1593. At the same time, Job Oxford married Margrett Godworth in July 1660 at St. Dunstan’s in the East, Stepney.

Variations:

More common variations of this surname are: Oxxford, Oxewford, Axford, Exford, Uxford, Oxfort, Oxfrod, Oxfird, Oxferd, Axford.

England:

The name Oxford first organized in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having beaten King Harold, gave most of the land in Britain to his several successful Barons. It was not an uncommon to find one 60 or more Lordships spread all over the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other offspring of his family and they appeared as under-tenants. Later several unmanageable conflicts between his lords, Duke William, instructed a census of all England in 1086, settling once and for all., who guarded which estate. He named the poll in the Domesday Book, expressing that those partners listed would control the land until the end of time. So, the surname is listed from the tenants of the lands of Oxford, Ulric de Oxenford, a Norman royal who was listed in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Ulric de Oxenford, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book for the division of Kent. It was during the time of King William Ist, 1066 – 1087.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Oxford settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Oxford who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Christopher Oxford, who came to Virginia in 1635. Christopher Oxford, who landed in Virginia in the same year in 1635. William Oxford, who arrived in Virginia in 1637. Michael Oxford, who came to Barbados in 1639 and Joseph Oxford, who landed in Virginia in 1650,

Some of the people with the name Oxford who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Rebecca Oxford landed in Virginia in 1724 and Abraham-Oxford, who arrived in New Jersey in 1760.

Some of the people with the name Oxford who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Henry Oxford at the age of 18, arrived in New York in 1862.

Australia:

Some of the people with the name Oxford who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Samuel Oxford, was an English prisoner from Dorset, who transported aboard the “Andromeda” in November 1832, coming in New South Wales, Australia. William Oxford at the age of 30, a brick manufacturer, arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “William Stevenson”.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Oxford: United States 5,766; Venezuela 652; Brazil 382; Ghana 320; Mexico 183; Saudi Arabia 154; France 98; Australia 427; Canada 613; South Africa 329.

Notable People:

Edward Oxford was a British subject who tried to kill Queen Victoria.

Ken Oxford was a British football player.

Kenneth Oxford was a British police officer.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (co Oxford). Paly of six ar. and az. on a bend gu. three mullets of the first, a border or.
2) Az. three bars or, on a chief ar. a lion pass. guard.