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Show ContentsFox History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Fox Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI
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Etymology of Fox

What does the name Fox mean?

During the biblical era, a Jew held only one name. This name was joined with their father's name typically using 'ben' ("son of"), to inform people who the individual's family ties were. Interestingly, the 4th century B.C. until the end of the Roman Empire it was quite common for Jews to have a Greek name rather than a Hebrew one.

Furthermore, Jews who lived in the western side of the Empire spoke Latin, and the Jews living in Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia all were commonly known with Aramaic names. 1

Fox is one of many German Jewish local names to come from the sign of a house in the Frankfurt ghetto. House 78 bore the sign of a fox (fuchs in German), and many of its residents adopted that as their surnames. There are also two other less common sources from which some cases of the name may derive. One is that among eastern European Jews "fox" was used as a nickname for people with red hair and may have been adopted as a surname. The other is that there was a garment worn by rabbis in 18th and 19th century Poland that was trimmed with fox fur, from which some of them may have taken their surnames. It would then qualify as an occupational name, a type of name that identified people by reference to their profession.

Fox Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fox and Fuchs and more. and others.

Fox World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fox is the 186th most popular surname with an estimated 131,811 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Fox is ranked the 329th most popular surname with an estimated 13,697 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Fox is the 163rd popular surname with an estimated 18,798 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Fox as 192nd with 2,900 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Fox as 114th with 42,599 people. 7

Fox migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fox Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Fox, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1608 aboard the ship "Second Supply" 8
  • Mr. Thomas Fox, British settler who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 9
  • Hugh Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1633 8
  • Mr. Hugh Fox, aged 24, from England who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "America" arriving in June 1635 8
  • George Fox, aged 14, who landed in Virginia in 1635 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fox Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 8
  • Richard Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
  • John Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
  • James Fox, who settled in Virginia in 1706
  • Marmaduke Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fox Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patt Fox, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 8
  • Joseph Fox, who landed in America in 1811 8
  • Antonio Fox, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 8
  • Mr. Fox, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 8
  • Joseph F Fox, who landed in New York in 1836 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fox Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Greenfield Fox, who arrived in Colorado in 1901 8
  • George Fox, who arrived in South America in 1911 8

Fox migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fox Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Barnaby Fox, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Christopher Fox, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Daniel Fox, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Castor Fox, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mrs. Mary Fox U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 328 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fox Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • George Fox, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1814 11
  • James Fox, who settled in Harbour Grace in 1817
  • Thomas Fox, who settled in King's Cove, Newfoundland in 1826 11
  • Benjamin Fox was a planter in Western Bay, Newfoundland in 1828
  • Henry Fox, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fox migration to Australia +

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

Fox Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Fox, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Peter Fox, (b. 1798), aged 16, Irish convict who was convicted in Meath, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Canada" on 5th December 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Robert Fox, English convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Joseph Fox, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Patrick Fox, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Mayo, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 9th August 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fox 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:

Fox Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Fox, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Geo Fife
  • John Fox, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
  • Matthew Fox, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Edward Thomas Fox, aged 35, a plumber, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
  • Harriet Fox, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fox migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17
Fox Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Fox, aged 19, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Fox (post 1700) +

  • Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox CC (1958-1981), Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist who attempted the Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run, to raise funds for cancer research, eponym of the Terry Fox Run which has been held more than 60 countries since 1981
  • Colin Fox (1938-2025), Canadian actor, appeared in various Canadian and American films and television series
  • Florence "Flo" Blossom Fox (1945-2025), American street photographer, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 30, carried on working as a photographer despite being completely paralyzed, having attendants, friends, and strangers take photos for her with an autofocus camera
  • Sam Fox (1929-2024), American businessman and diplomat in St. Louis, owner of Harbour Group Industries, 31st United States Ambassador to Belgium from 2007 to 2009
  • Gloria Lavera Fox (1942-2024), American politician for the state of Massachusetts
  • Karen Cynthia Fox (1954-2024), American set decorator
  • Jacob Fox (1879-1947), born Henry Fuchs, American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Marye Anne Payne Fox (1947-2021), American physical organic chemist and university administrator, Seventh Chancellor of the University of California San Diego (2004-2012)
  • Irwin "Sonny" Fox (1925-2021), American broadcaster and television host and host of the children's television program, Wonderama
  • Winent H. D. Fox, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State Attorney General, 1906; Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1919 18
  • ... (Another 235 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hillcrest Coal Mine
Hillsborough disaster
  • Thomas Steven Fox (1967-1989), English production worker who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 20
HMS Cornwall
  • John Henry Edward Fox (d. 1942), British Leading Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Jack Fox, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 22
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Geoffrey Fox, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. Leonard G Fox, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23
HMS Royal Oak
  • William Thomas John Fox, British Midshipman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 24
RMS Lusitania
  • Mrs. Emily Fox, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Trenton, New Jersey, USA returning to Woolwich, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Francis Edwin Fox, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Trenton, New Jersey, USA returning to Woolwich, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 25
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Thomas Fox (d. 1912), aged 27, English Steward from Ealing, London who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 26
  • Mr. Patrick Fox (d. 1912), aged 28, Irish Third Class passenger from Mullingar, Westmeath who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 26
  • Mr. Stanley Hubert Fox (d. 1912), aged 38, American Second Class passenger from Rochester, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 26
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Daniel Russell Fox, American Lieutenant Colonel from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27
USS Indianapolis
  • William Henry Fox Jr., American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 28

Suggested Readings for the name Fox +

  • American Family History: Fox, Ellicott, Evans; Charles Worthington Evans, Martha Ellicott Tyson, G. Hunter Bartlett by Charles Worthington Evans.
  • Fox Family History, 1703-1976 by John Franklin Vallentine.
  1. Weiss, Nelly. The Origin of Jewish family names: Morphology and History. Peter Lang AG, 2002. Digital
  2. Weiss, Nelly. The origin of Jewish family names: morphology and history. Peter Lang AG, 2002. Digital
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. 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)
  9. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. 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
  11. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  15. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
  20. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  21. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  22. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  23. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  24. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  25. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  26. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  27. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  28. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew

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