Surname Foxcote - Meaning and Origin
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Foxcote: What does the surname Foxcote mean?
The last name Foxcote is derived from the Old English words "fox" and "cot," which means "fox enclosure,” or a place where foxes were either hunted or bred. This type of name is thought to originate during a period when foxes were a popular, and desired, game animal.
Foxcote is an old English surname found primarily in the British Isles, and is believed to have become common in the 12th century. Since then, many related surnames have been created, including Foxall, Foxcroft, and Foxhill. These all signify a family line that has some connection to foxes.
Foxcote is most often associated with England, specifically the Somerset region. It’s possible that members of the Foxcote family have lived in this region for centuries, given the importance of Foxcote as a surname within this area.
Mostly, the Foxcote name reflects a family’s connection to the area where they lived, and the wildlife that surrounded them. It is likely that the word has been passed down for generations, giving each generation a common ancestry. It is also a reminder of the historical importance of the fox in establishing rural communities of the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisFoxcote: Where does the name Foxcote come from?
The surname Foxcote is most common today in Britain. In terms of geographical spread, the highest concentrations are found in the Midlands and the South East of England, with the majority of bearers residing in the East Midlands. The most significant concentrations around Cambridge and Oxford in particular. Foxcote is also fairly common in the North East, with several pockets of families around Newcastle, Durham and Northumberland.
The surname is particularly associated with areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire, both counties combining to produce more Foxcotes than any other part of the country. In Leicestershire it is clustered around the Kirkby Mallory and Desford area, while in Warwickshire there are a number of villages around Rugby that have high levels of Foxcotes.
The surname is also concentrated in several other locations across the country, including Derbyshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, North Yorkshire and Hampshire.
Given its origins and geographical spread within Britain, it’s likely that Foxcote is derived from an Old English personal name, Foxcot, denoting a fox's cottage or a fox's den. The surname is likely to have been acquired by a family that lived next to such a location.
Ultimately, the surname Foxcote can trace its roots back to a single person, likely living hundreds of years ago in England. Despite its apparent rarity, however, the surname remains relatively common in certain areas of the country, particularly in the East Midlands, with modern-day bearers likely to be descended from this same line of people.
Variations of the surname Foxcote
Foxcote is an English-origin surname derived from the “fox’s cote”, that is a fox enclosure or a place where foxes resided. The surname could be spelled in multiple ways, such as Foxcot, Foxcote, Foxcott, Foxkot and Foxkote. Variants of Foxcote may include Foxcott, Foxcote, Foxcut, Foxecote, Foxkote and Foxkott.
The surname also has a variant spelling of Foxcox, found among the Devon area of England. This spelling is derived from an old Dorset dialect 'foxes cocks', a place where foxes were bred.
The possible surnames of the same origin are Foxkotte, Foxkot, Foxkote, Foxcott, Foxcut, Foxcoate, Foxecott, Foxcox and Foxcoates.
There are many derivatives of the original Foxcote surname, such as Vosgate, Voscot, Fosscote, Foxby, Faux, Foxhoc, Foxhall, Foxie, Foxley, Foxlow and Foxworth.
Foxcote has spread to other places in the world. For example, in India, British settlers brought the surname with them where it became more common as Foxcoat or Fuxcot.
Other related surnames of Foxcote include Foxton, Foxden, Foxhall, Foxon, Foxall, Foxcroft and Foxtall.
The Foxcote surname is usually associated with the county of Cheshire in England. People bearing this surname can be found in Scotland, Ireland, Australia, United States, India and Germany.
Famous people with the name Foxcote
- Graham Foxcote: a British actor, who has starred in numerous television shows and films, such as The Bill, Torchwood, and EastEnders.
- Sir Richard Foxcote: a lawyer and politician, who rose to become Solicitor General of England in 1614 and was knighted in the same year.
- Major-General Sturges Foxcote: an English soldier who fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
- William Foxcote: an English cardiologist, who was an early pioneer in the field of heart disease.
- John Foxcote: an English entomologist, who published one of the first books on that subject in 1662.
- Peter Foxcote: an English photographer, who has captured some of the most stunning images of nature.
- Mary Foxcote: an English writer, who wrote many books and articles of literary criticism.
- Phil Foxcote: a British television producer, who has worked on popular shows such as EastEnders and Coronation Street.
- Vincent Foxcote: a scholar of the classics, who worked in Cambridge for over fifty years.
- Lady Sarah Foxcote: a philanthropist and patron of the arts, who founded and funded many schools and hospitals throughout Europe.