Wixon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Wixon

What does the name Wixon mean?

The Wixon surname is a habitation name, derived from any of various places so named.

Early Origins of the Wixon family

The surname Wixon was first found in Hampshire at Wickham, anciently spelt Wykeham, a village and civil parish which dates back to c. 925-941 when it was spelt Wicham. 1 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, it was listed as Wicheham. 2

William de Wycheham or Wickwane (d. 1285), was Archbishop of York and Canon and Chancellor of York. 3

This village was the birth place of William of Wykeham (c. 1320-1404), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College Oxford and New College School in 1379, and later founded Winchester College in 1382. 4

The "Bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England, took his name from Wickham, near Fareham, Hampshire, where he was born in the summer of 1324. His mother, Sibill Bowade, had some gentle blood, but his father, John Long, is merely described as of free condition. They were poor, and Wykeham was sent to school at Winchester by some unnamed patrons, perhaps Sir Ralph Sutton and Sir John Scures. " 3 The place name literally means "homestead associated with a vicus (reference to its ancient Roman settlement)." 1

"[Birchanger in Essex] was given by Richard II. to William of Wykeham, for the endowment of New College, Oxford, the Warden and Fellows of which are the present proprietors." 4

The parish of Garsington in Oxfordshire was another ancient family seat. "The church [of Garsington], an ancient and venerable structure, contains some handsome monuments to the family of Wickham." 4

The Wycombe variant was first recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1326 as John de Wycoumbe. 5

Early History of the Wixon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wixon research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1305, 1335, 1400, 1539, 1550, 1559, 1584 and 1595 are included under the topic Early Wixon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wixon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wickham, Wickombe, Wycombe, Wickholm, Wigham, Wickcombe, Wigholm, Wickholme, Wykham, Wyckham, Wygholme, Wiggam, Wiggham and many more.

Early Notables of the Wixon family

Distinguished members of the family include William Wickham (Wykeham) (1539-1595), an English bishop, Bishop of Lincoln (1584-1595) and Bishop of Winchester in 1595. He "claimed descent from William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, but was a member of a different family. He was...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wixon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wixon family to Ireland

Some of the Wixon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wixon family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Wickham, who settled in Connecticut in 1648; Ann Wickham, who arrived in Maryland in 1652; Christian Wickombe settled in Virginia in 1654; Alice Wickham, who arrived in Barbados in 1679.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)