Origin of Bexley
This is a locational name which derives either from the town of Bexley in Kent or rather more oddly, Bexhill in Sussex, the latter being a good example of how even place names change their identity over the centuries. In the 1086 Domesday Book both places appear in the original spelling form of "Bexleah" which translates as "The place (leah) of the Box trees (byxe)" from the Olde English pre 8th century. In fact both places are recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles as early as 778 a.d. although the surname is much later.
Most locational surnames were initially those of the Lord of the Manor, however this does not seem to apply in this case as the first Lord Bexley was not appointed until 1823, and he was a Vansittart. On the other hand the name development has not followed the usual pattern of being given to a former inhabitant when he or sometimes she, moved to another area or parish. These moves were often as a result of plague, civil war, or the changes in agricultural practise, resulting from the 15th century Enclosure Acts, but as "Bexley" name holders are found literally in Bexley from the Middle Ages, this would seem not to apply. The recordings of the surname include Robert Bexly who was christened at Kirdford, Sussex on January 1st 1569, parents not recorded, and Robert Bexley of Bexley, whose daughter Margaret, was christened on September 17th 1592. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Bexley, which was dated June 14th 1568, married Katheryn Bousman at Cranbrook, Kent, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess," 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The surname Bexley. Its genealogy, origins, history, and meaning.
Discovering the historical origins of Bexley is an incredibly exciting journey that takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who built this lineage. Like most surnames, the history of the surname Bexley is a thorny and surprising journey into the past in order to find out the origin of the surname Bexley, which leads us to have more knowledge about those who bear the surname Bexley, their origin, their coat of arms, the bibliography in which it appears... It is possible to trace their genealogy and, in addition to the original places of Bexley, we know where it is possible to find people with the surname Bexley today.
View complete list of Bexley in the world
Bexley: historical chronicle
The history of Bexley is an interesting sequence of events that were protagonized by the people who have held the surname Bexley throughout history, and it is possible to trace this history back to the first bearers of the surname Bexley. Their feats, their way of life, the places they lived, their family relationships, the jobs they held... All of this is crucial for anyone who, like you, is interested in having more information about the historical, heraldic, coat of arms, and nobility of the surname Bexley. In the following lines, you can find everything we have been able to compile about the surname Bexley. However, if you have more information that you would like to share, we would greatly appreciate your contribution to expand the knowledge of people who, like you, are looking to increase their knowledge about the surname Bexley.
Unfortunately, we do not have any more historical information about Bexley than the one we have provided with pleasure. We invite those who visit us on this website to analyze the recommended bibliography and to come back often, since we often receive valuable collaborations from other people interested in the origin and history of surnames that could have information of special interest about the surname Bexley, and that we would update on this website as soon as possible (after a previous verification). Similarly, if you consider yourself one of those people, we urge you to support us and send us the information about Bexley that is available to you, thanking you in advance for your detail.
The most famous Bexley in history
There have probably been some significant Bexley throughout the history of humanity, even if, for some reason, not all of their contributions were included in the chronicles of the time or their data has not come down to the present day. Unfortunately, not all of the important contributions of people who have carried the surname Bexley were taken into account at the time by the chroniclers of the time. Although a surname has the ability to link a person to a famous lineage and a glorious coat of arms, it is individuals who, throughout their lives and by virtue of some outstanding or important achievements for the society in which they lived, give their surnames renown and it is possible to establish prominent lineages. For this reason, we want to highlight on this website those people with the surname Bexley who, for some reason, have left their mark on the course of history.
The surname Bexley and its bibliographic sources
Based on all the research we have been able to gather so far, we can say that there is information available about the history, genealogy, and heraldry of the surname Bexley thanks to bibliographic sources. This means that we can discover more about its original meaning, origin, history, coat of arms, and heraldry. Our recommendation is to consult the following sources if you want to conduct research on the surname Bexley, as well as many other surnames:
Bibliographic sources for Bexley
These sources are essential for taking a step forward in the study of Bexley, and of surnames in general.
