Bax History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Bax

What does the name Bax mean?

The Bax family's name is originates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon personal name Bacga, Bacca having derived from the Old Northern English bæc or Old Norse bekk-rir, belonging to Back, or dweller by a Brook. 1 2 3

In some cases, the name is from the Dutch Bac, Bak; a personal name. 4 In other cases, the name is "sometimes synonymous with Beck, but more generally either [means] a wharf or a ferry where it is pluralized to Backs, whence Bax." 5

Early Origins of the Bax family

The surname Bax was first found in Somerset, where the name first appears as an Old English Byname, Godwine Bace c. 1055. Later, Richard Bac was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Cornwall in 1182 and Richard Backe in Suffolk in 1277. Kenry le Bak was found in Kent in 1297. 6

Again in Somerset, John atte Back was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

Much later, we found two listing of the family in Scotland, Janet Back in Learbarmor, 1683 (Stirling), and George Back in Edinburgh, 1689. 8

Early History of the Bax family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bax research. Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1055, 1182, 1277, 1297, 1327, 1349, 1369, 1563, 1594, 1689, 1754, 1796 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Bax History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bax Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bax has undergone many spelling variations, including Back, Backe, Bace, Bac, Bak, Bache, Bax and others.

Early Notables of the Bax family

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

Bax Ranking

In the United States, the name Bax is the 16,642^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 9 However, in Netherlands, the name Bax is ranked the 477^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,593 people with that name. 10

Bax migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bax Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Bax, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ambrosine" in 1860 11
Harriett Bax, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ambrosine" in 1860 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Bax (post 1700) +

Adriaan "Ad" Bax (b. 1956), Dutch-American molecular biophysicist, born in the Netherlands, Chief of the Section on Biophysical NMR Spectroscopy at the National Institutes of Health
Ernest Belfort Bax (1854-1926), English barrister, journalist, philosopher, men's rights advocate, socialist, and historian
Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax (1883-1953), English composer, poet, and author, best known for his orchestral music
Martin Charles Owen Bax (1933-2024), British consultant paediatrician, who also founded the Arts magazine Ambit in 1959
Christopher Bax, Australian producer from Sydney, known for Genesis, Norfolk and The Astronauts (2020)
Nick Bax (b. 1970), British designer and graphic artist
Kylie Bax (b. 1975), New Zealand model and actress who has appeared on international magazine covers, including Vogue and Marie Claire
Alessio Bax (b. 1977), Italian classical pianist
Bob Bax (1925-2000), Australian rugby league footballer and coach
Jean-Sebastien Bax (b. 1972), retired French-Mauritian footballer who played from 1994 to 2008
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html