Moxham - Name

This interesting surname of English origin, is a metronymic from the medieval female given name Mag(ge), a pet form of the female personal name Margaret, itself coming from the Latin female given name Margarita meaning "pearl". The name was borne by several early christian saints, and became a popular female given name throughout Europe. The usual middle English form was Margerie. The surname dates back to the mid 17th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Moxom, Moxam, Moxen, etc.. One Mary Moxham married Henry Wells, at St. Marylebone, London, on October 1st 1677. Bridget Moxham, daughter of Richard and Hester, was christened at St. Andrew, Holborn, on December 12th 1686, and Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Hester Moxham, was christened on April 23rd at St. Andrew, Holborn. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Josias Moxham married Rebecca L, which was dated 1663, St. Mary Abchurch, London, during the reign of King Charles 11, "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. 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.