Place of Birth

South Carolina
Tribal Affiliation

Iroquois
Surname Heritage

Germany / Ireland / Israel

Fox History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Fox originally appeared in Gaelic as O Sionnaigh, derived from the word “sionnach,” which means “fox.”

Early Origins of the Fox family

The surname Fox was first found in County Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Fox family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fox research.

Fox Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Fox were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual’s name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Fox, McFox, McShanaghy, McShinagh, McShinnock and others.

Early Notables of the Fox family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was George Fox (1624-1691), an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers or Friends.

Fox World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fox is the 186^th most popular surname with an estimated 131,811 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Fox is ranked the 329^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,697 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name Fox is the 163^rd popular surname with an estimated 18,798 people with that name. [3]New Zealand ranks Fox as 192^nd with 2,900 people. [4] The United Kingdom ranks Fox as 114^thwith 42,599 people. [5]

Fox migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Fox family in North America:

Fox Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Fox, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1608 aboard the ship “Second Supply” [6]
Mr. Thomas Fox, British settler who sailed from Isle of Wright arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship “Ambrose” as part of the Winthrop Fleet [7]
Hugh Fox, who arrived in Virginia in 1633 [6]
Mr. Hugh Fox, aged 24, from England who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship “America” arriving in June 1635 [6]
George Fox, aged 14, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [6]