Fox (surname)

Last updated
Fox
Origin
MeaningIn Ireland Fox is usually a translation of Mac an tSionnaigh or Ó Sionnaigh meaning son/descendant of the fox
Region of originEngland and Ireland
Other names
Variant form(s) Lane Fox, Vos, Voss, Fuchs, Shinnick, Tinney
Frequency Comparison: [1]

Fox is a surname originating in England and Ireland. Variants include Foxe and Foxx.

Contents

English origin

The Fox surname in England comes from the Middle English identical word for 'fox', and was given to those who looked like or had the qualities of the animal such as being cunning or having red hair. It can also be a corruption of the Norman name 'Folko' or 'Foulques', and given to those who were the son or descendant of someone with that name. Some Fox carriers in England could also be of Irish ancestry. Fox is the 1,595th most common surname in the world with the majority of bearers likely being of English descent. [2] [3] [4]

Irish origins

The Fox surname in Ireland is a lot more complicated and has four main origins

1 - Sionnach (often rendered Ó Sionnaigh), Kings of Tethbae were a powerful clan in the Irish midlands who held lands in modern day County Longford, County Meath, County Westmeath and County Offaly. They descend from Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noígíallachs) son Maine of Tethba (Máiné mac Néill). The surname first appeared in the annals when Tadgh Ó Catharnaigh (Teague O'Kearney) who was king of Teathbae adopted Sionnach (Irish for fox) as his name (likely as a nickname). Tadhg would pass his new name onto his descendants and the clan would eventually become know as Ó Catharnaigh Sionnach (O'Kearney Fox) (for another example of this Irish agnomen see Mac Murchadha Caománach (MacMurphy Kavanagh). During the Tudor conquest of Ireland the Ó Catharnaigh Sionnach surrendered their Gaelic title in what was known as Surrender and regrant and were given the English title of Baron of Kilcoursey and anglicised their name as Fox. They later lost their English title due to their involvement with the Irish rebellion of 1641. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

2 - Mac an tSionnaigh, a scattered clan that was primarily found in Ulster and was also anglicised as Tinney. [12]

3 - de Bhosc, a Norman family that settled in County Limerick after the Anglo-Norman invasion during the 12th century. [13]

4. Mac Seancha, the name of a Connacht family that was incorrectly translated to Fox. [14]

Some families with this name

Notable persons with this surname

Actors

Arts (other)

Military

Politics and peerage

Religion

Science, technology, engineering, mathematics

Sports

Other

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fox Surname Meaning and Distribution". forebears.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2014
  2. ↑ "Fox surname origin meaning and family tree". Findmypast.
  3. ↑ "Fox surname meaning and fox family history".
  4. ↑ "Fox surname origin, meaning and last name history". Forebears.
  5. ↑ "Ó Sionnaigh". Sionnach Abú.
  6. ↑ "Fox coat of arms, family crest". Irish coat of arms, family crests.
  7. ↑ "Fox Anglicised surnames of Ireland". LibraryIreland.com.
  8. ↑ John, Grenham. "Fox surname history". Irish Ancestors. John Grenham. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Fox - Anglicised Surnames in Ireland". Library Ireland. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "fox Coat of Arms, Family Crest and fox Family History". Irish Coat of Arms, Family Crest. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "The Wily Foxes". The Irish Aesthete. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "Mac An tSionnaigh". LibraryIreland.con.
  13. ↑ "de Bhosc". LibraryIreland.com.
  14. ↑ "Mac Seancha".
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