Baxter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Baxter

What does the name Baxter mean?

The ancient Scottish-English border region is the ancestral home of the name Baxter. It was first used by the Boernician people, and is a name for a female baker, who were known as "bakesters". With the continuing development of Old English, the word gradually came to be applied to both men and women. 1 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Baxter family

The surname Baxter was first found in Forfarshire part of the Tayside region of North Eastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

"This surname comes from the occupation of "bakester," originally a woman that baked, Old English bsecestre a female baker. In Middle English the ending -esire being unstressed soon lost its final e, and -ster came to be regarded as an emphatic form of -er, and consequently was applied to men as well as women, so that the early Middle English feminine bakstere became later Middle English masculine baxster. In Latin charters the word or name is rendered pistor. Between 1153 and 1177 William pistor witnessed a grant by David Olifard to the Hospital of Soltre and c. 1188-1202 Aldied pistor was one of the witnesses to a charter of the kirk ([church]) of Haddington. Between 1200-1240 Reginald Baxtar witnessed the gift of the church of Wemys in Fife to Soltre. Geffrei le Baxtere of Lossithe of the county of Forfare took the oath of fealty, 1290. Thomas dictus Baxter, burgess of Irvine, made a grant in 1323 for support of a chaplain in the parish church of Irvine, and Hutredus pistor was burgess of Roxburgh, c. 1330." 1

Early History of the Baxter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baxter research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1296, 1300, 1312, 1323, 1341, 1398, 1467, 1505, 1506, 1512, 1531, 1533, 1615, 1644, 1656, 1659, 1684, 1686, 1687, 1691, 1750, 1781, 1793, 1825, 1836, 1856, 1858, 1863, 1872, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Baxter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baxter Spelling Variations

In the many years before the invention of the printing press and the first dictionaries, names and other words were spelled according to sound, often differently with each person who wrote them. Spelling variations of Baxter include Baxter, Bakster, Baxster, Baxstair, Baxstare and others.

Early Notables of the Baxter family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

William Baxter, defender of Edinburgh Castle; Richard Baxter (1615-1691) was a Nonconformist divine, a writer, who wrote the masterpiece, "Saint's Everlasting Rest." Andrew Baxter (1686-1750), the Sco...
Sir David Baxter (1793-1872), was a Dundee manufacturer, the second son of William Baxter, of Balgavies, and was born in Dundee 15 Feb. 1793. A liberal in politics, he took a lively interest in parlia...
John Baxter (1781-1858), the English printer was the first to use a ink-roller and published "Baxter's Bible," as well as the first book of cricket rules
William Baxter (died c. 1836), was an English gardener; and William Edward Baxter (1825-1890), a British politician and traveler

Baxter World Ranking

In the United States, the name Baxter is the 566^th most popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Baxter is ranked the 605^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,372 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Baxter is the 267^th popular surname with an estimated 12,777 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Baxter as 302^nd with 2,025 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Baxter as 220^th with 26,176 people. 9

Migration of the Baxter family to Ireland

Some of the Baxter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 259 words (18 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baxter migration to the United States +

In many cases, the ancestors of many of these Boernician-Scottish people are just now learning of their Scottish heritage. Since the trip was so arduous, and many were fleeing from poverty itself, settlers brought little with them and often had nothing of their personal history to hand down to their children. Clan societies and highland games have helped to correct this problem in the 20th century. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Baxters to arrive on North American shores:

Baxter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gregory Baxter from Norfolk, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet he went on to Roxbury. 10
Mr. John Baxter, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 10
Robert Baxter, aged 21, British settler who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Alice" 10
William Baxter, who landed in Virginia in 1636 10
Jane Baxter, who landed in Virginia in 1636 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Baxter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Baxter, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 10
Henry Baxter, a bonded passenger who arrived in Maryland in 1744
Barnaby Baxter, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Baxter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel Baxter, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1802 10
John, Baxter Jr., who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 10
Robert Baxter, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 10
George Baxter, who arrived in America in 1811 10
C Baxter, aged 26, who landed in Maryland in 1813 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Baxter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Baxter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Baxter, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Elijah Baxter U.E. who settled in Norton, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1783 he died in 1852 11
Mr. George Baxter U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 11
Mr. Joseph Baxter U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 11
Capt. Simon Baxter U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Baxter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Kennedy Baxter, who arrived in Canada in 1820
William Baxter, aged 28, who landed in Quebec in 1833
Mary Baxter, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
William Baxter, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
J Baxter, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Baxter migration to Australia +

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

Baxter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Baxter, (Brickell, Susannah), British Convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. William Baxter, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Baxter, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Baxter, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Baxter, (b. 1802), aged 18, British Convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Baxter 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:

Baxter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Baxter, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl Durham" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1841 15
Mr. William Baxter, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 16
Mr. Jas. Baxter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Nourmahal" arriving in Dunedin, Otaga, South Island, New Zealand on 5th May 1858 15
Mr. R. Baxter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 16
Mr. William Baxter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd November 1859 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Baxter (post 1700) +

Irvin Lee Baxter Jr. (1945-2020), American Oneness Pentecostal minister, televangelist, author, and biblical scholar
William "Bucky" Baxter (1955-2020), American guitarist, known for having played in Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour during the 1990s
Irving Baxter (1876-1957), American two time gold and three time silver Olympic medalist for long, high and triple jump as well as pole vault
Meredith Baxter (b. 1947), American television actress
Warner Baxter (1889-1951), American actor
William Giles Baxter (1856-1888), English (American-born) cartoonist
Anne Baxter (1923-1985), American actor nominated for an Academy Award for her role in All About Eve
James Phinney Baxter III (1893-1975), American educator and Pulitzer Prize winning historian, president of Williams College (1937-1961)
George Baxter, Scottish founder of Baxters, an international food company, based in Fochabers, Moray, Scotland in 1868
Jim Baxter (b. 1939), Scottish footballer
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Baxter family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. George R. Baxter (d. 1914), British Musician from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 17
Miss Annie May Baxter (1901-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 18

Halifax Explosion

Ms. Jennie M. Baxter (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19

HMS Halsted

Mr. David Warnock Baxter (b. 1925), Scottish Royal Navy ordinary seaman from Ayrshire, Scotland was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive

HMS Hood

Mr. John K Baxter (b. 1922), English Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Leeds, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Thomas Baxter, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. Sidney Baxter, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22
Mr. Cyril Baxter, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 22
Mr. Arthur L Baxter, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22

North Sea Flood

Roseann Baxter, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mr. William Baxter, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Welland, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
Master William Baxter, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Welland, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 23
Mrs. Annie E. Baxter, (née Ripley), Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Welland, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. Harry Ross Baxter (d. 1912), aged 51, English Third Class Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Thomas Ferguson Baxter (d. 1912), aged 48, English Linen Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 24
Mrs. Hélène Baxter, (née de Lanaudière-Chaput), aged 50, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 6 24
Mr. Quigg Edmond Baxter (d. 1912), aged 24, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

The Baxter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.

Citations +

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)
Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html