Surname Baxley - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Baxley Lineage: A Journey Into My Ancestral Past Through iGENEA DNA Test
Receiving the results of my iGENEA DNA test has been a transformative experience, revolutionizing my understanding of my surname, Baxley, and my family identity. The revelation of my chiefly Northern and Western European heritage, with roots in the Viking Era's Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, has provided me with an intricate narrative of cultural fusion, tremendous survival, and migration.
V. Baxley
read moreBaxley: What does the surname Baxley mean?
Baxley is an English surname, which is predominantly traced back to Anglo-Saxon origins. The name is geographic, deriving from a place called "Bexley" located in Kent, southeastern England. The word "Bexley" itself comes from Old English terms - "Byxe," which translates to "box tree," and "Leah," meaning "woodland clearing." In essence, the surname Baxley signifies someone from the "clearing of box trees" or a "woodland glade where box trees grow." Over time, variations in spelling, including Bexley, Baxley, Baxlee, and Baxly, have emerged due to differences in regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Despite being rooted in English history, the name is seen across many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is significant to note that surnames have evolved over centuries and their meanings can have different interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisBaxley: Where does the name Baxley come from?
The surname Baxley originates from England. It is believed to derive from the town of Bexley in Kent region, and the name originally meant "clearing in the woods by Bǣcingas." People named Baxley were those that lived or operated in or near Bexley. The name started to appear in written records during the 13th century, but it most likely dates back to even earlier times.
Today, the surname Baxley is most common in the United States. This is likely due to a wave of immigration from Britain to America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, you'll find the majority of Baxleys in the southern U.S., particularly in states like Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is also present to a lesser extent in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Despite this, Baxley is still not very common overall, making it a relatively unique surname.
Variations of the surname Baxley
The surname Baxley is of English origin, believed to be derived from the place-name Bexley, which is situated near London, England.
Variants and spellings of the surname Baxley may include Bexley, Bexleigh, Baxly, Bexly, and Baxleigh. These variants are mainly due to phonetic conversions over time and the need to Anglicize the name for various reasons.
These surnames have evolved due to the diverse spelling of British surnames over centuries, often as a result of illiteracy in the Middle Ages where names were recorded as they were pronounced.
It's also possible to find instances where the spellings are interspersed with double letters, such as Baxxley or Bexxley, but these versions are less common. As this is quite a specific surname, there are not a wide range of variations as may be found with more common surnames.
Other surnames with the same origin (i.e., from the place-name Bexley) can include Beckley, Buckley, and Oxley, but these have evolved into distinct surnames over time and may no longer be seen as variants of Baxley.
Famous people with the name Baxley
- Barbara Baxley: An American actress and singer, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, "Nashville".
- Joel Baxley: He served as the acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development in the United States Department of Agriculture.
- Sara Baxley: A renowned film and television costume designer known for her work in "Kill Bill: Volume 1", "True Romance" and "Free State of Jones".
- William B. Baxley: A politician from the U.S., he served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and the 42nd Attorney General of Alabama.
- Lyn Baxley: An actress known for "Last of the Good Guys" and "The Fat Black Pussycat".
- Jere Locke Beasley Sr: He also served as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and was Interim Governor for a brief period in 1972. Note that he uses "Beasley" instead of "Baxley", but it is one of his surnames.
- Steve Baxley: He is a professional football player, associated with NFL.