Sexon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Sexon

The name Sexon is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Saxton, a parish, in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 This place-name was originally derived from the Old English Seaxe + tun, collectively meaning Saxon village. 2 The parish was recorded as Saxtun in the Doomsday Book of 1086. 3

Another source postulates the name could have originated in Cambridgeshire at Saxton Hall and/or Saxon Street. 4

The Sexton spelling denotes the office of " 'the sacristan,' now sexton or verger of a church. This, without doubt, has added to the modern directories. Although my instances are few, I suspect it is the parent of many of our Saxtons and Sextons." 5

"'Sexton', [was] originally 'the officer in a church in charge of the sacred vessels and vestments', not, as now, the grave-digger." 4

Early Origins of the Sexon family

Early History of the Sexon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sexon research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1537, 1540, 1556, 1610, 1631, 1732, 1773, 1808, 1838 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sexon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sexon Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sexon were recorded, including Saxton, Saxon, Sefton, Sephton, Septon, Sexton and others.

Early Notables of the Sexon family

Distinguished members of the family include Nicholas Shaxton (1485?-1556), Bishop of Salisbury, born probably about 1485, a native of the diocese of Norwich. He may have been a younger brother of one Thomas Shaxton of Batheley (or Bale) in Norfolk who, according to one pedigree, died in April 1537. 6Christopher Saxton (c.1540-1610) of Dewsbury, Yorkshire was a...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sexon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sexon family to Ireland

Some of the Sexon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 106 words (8 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 Sexon family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Sexon family emigrate to North America: Giles Saxton, who came to Salem Massachusetts in 1630; John Sexton, who came to Virginia in 1635; Richard Sexton, who was on record in Boston Massachusetts in 1635.