Map of England showing where the Moxon arms are recorded
The Moxon arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Moxon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Moxon Family in England
The surname Moxon is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. Etymologists generally believe the name is derived from the Old English words for a settlement or a farmstead belonging to a person named Mock. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Moxon family were active participants in the civic and religious life of the region during this period. As York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, families like the Moxons often held positions that allowed them to leave behind detailed parish registers and legal documents. These early records provide a clear window into the lives of the family as they navigated the social changes of the Stuart era in Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mock
A medieval pet form of the given name Matthew.
This name
MoxonSon of Mock, representing a patronymic derivation from the name Matthew.
also spelled
Moxson
Moxen
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of the City of York, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
