Foxcroft

This interesting surname of English origin is a topographical name for someone who lives in or by the fox croft i.e. an area of enclosed land used for tillage or pasture, in this instance populated by foxes also. It seems that the name originated on the Yorkshire and North Lancashire border since the first recordings of the name are found exclusively in that area. The surname dates back to the late 14th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Thomas Fowscroft (1551) of Caton in "The lancashire Wills at Richmond", and George Fouxcrofte 1599 of Littledate also in "The Lancashire Wills at Richmond". London church recordings include one Samuell Foxecroft who was christened on August 30th 1631, at Allhallows, London Wall, Beniamyn Foxcroft was christened on December 19th 1632, also at Allhallows, London Wall, and Abigall, daughter of George Foxcroft, was christened on March 10th 1636, at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes de Fowscroft, which was dated 1379, The Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Richard 11 of Bordeaux 1277 - 1399. 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.