Surname Boxsell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Boxsell: What does the surname Boxsell mean?
The last name Boxsell is of British origin. It is believed to have originated in the North West of England in the area around Lancashire. The name means a ‘dweller near the box tree’ or more particularly ‘dweller of the farmstead of the box trees’. It could also be a topographical name for someone living near a box tree, or a locational name for someone who moved from a place with a box tree to another one.
The earliest public record of the surname was found in 1524 in the Lancashire Subsidy Rolls and concentrated in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The early Boxsells included Robert Bokesele of Sheffield (1325) and Robert Bokeshill of Durham (1379). Later records show the name was common in the area around Chester.
The name may be found in various spelling combinations including Bokeshill, Boxsell and Boxshall. It eventually spread throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and America.
Due to its likely origins, the Boxsell surname typically denotes a tradition of farming or orchard keeping. It could also show someone who had ties to the box tree, for example those in the forestry trade. The name also could be an indication of a move from one area to another. Ultimately, the Boxsell surname is steeped in history and associated with the North West of England.
Order DNA origin analysisBoxsell: Where does the name Boxsell come from?
The surname Boxsell is a relatively uncommon name today, mainly found among some families in southern England and certain other parts of the United Kingdom. Records indicate that some Boxsell families can be found in the city of London and surrounding areas, as well as in Essex, Kent, and Sussex. It is believed that the surname was brought to England by Huguenot immigrants who fled persecution in France during the late 17th century.
Boxsell families in the United Kingdom also appear to have branched out to other parts of the world such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Today, the Boxsell surname is found in small numbers in these countries, often among British expats and their descendants.
Despite its decline in popularity, the Boxsell name is still proudly carried by current generations. Boxsell family members continue to take an active interest in their shared history, and remain living in the places their ancestors once called home.
There are a number of books, websites, and other resources that provide information about the Boxsell surname and its various branches; these can be helpful for anyone researching their Boxsell family history.
Variations of the surname Boxsell
The Boxsell surname is an interesting and rare English patronymic surname, which is derived from the Old English given name Boce. Boce is a diminutive form of the name Boco, which is of Germanic origin and thought to be derived from the Latin term AVOCATUS, meaning “one who pleads a cause” or “lawyer”.
Variations, spellings and other surnames derived from Boxsell include Buxsell, Bixsell, Boysell and Boyce. The name is an uncommon one, and is found rarely in records. One of the earliest appearancs of the surname is in the records of the dean and chapter of Gloucester, dated 1378, which name William Buxselle as a monk.
Throughout British history, various variants and spellings were adopted by people who bore the name Boxsell. For instance, records from the 16th century document the existence of William Boysell, who was the resident of Lancashire, born in 1563. In 1881, the census records of Great Britain indicate that 27 individuals bore the surname Bixsell. Towards the end of the 19th century, the population of individuals with the surname Boxsell had declined and this trend continued into the early 20th century.
In the United States, spellings and other variants of the Boxsell family evolved over time and can be found in the US census records documenting the descendants of the original Boxsells. These include Bexell, Baxel, Bexell, Baxsell, Boyce, Boxill, and Boxell.
In addition to these spellings, the Boxsell name has been changed to sound like a variety of different names including Bovis, Bosil, Boswell, Beasly and Bozelle. It is possible that the name is derived from the same source as the surname Boxall and the surname Boosel.
Overall, the Boxsell surname is an interesting and rare surname, with many spellings and variants. It is thought to be of Germanic origin, and has evolved and spread through Europe and the US, with a large population of descendants bearing different spellings and surnames.
Famous people with the name Boxsell
- Ant Boxsell: Australian footballer
- Barry Boxsell: Australian professional sports coach
- Clare Boxsell: English author and lecturer
- Dan Boxsell: Australian rugby league player
- Gordon Boxsell: British film director, writer and producer
- Hugh Boxsell: Australian rugby union player
- James Boxsell: English songwriter, guitarist and singer
- Lance Boxsell: Australian cyclist
- Lois Boxsell: British visual artist
- Mark Boxsell: British actor and director
- Nathan Boxsell: Australian singer and songwriter
- Peter Boxsell: Australian politician
- Stephen Boxsell: British actor and choreographer
- William Boxsell: British cricketer
- Zoe Boxsell: British TV presenter and actor