| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Meaning | In Ireland, Fox is usually a translation/anglicisation of Ó Sionnaigh or Mac an tSionnaigh, meaning son/descendant of the fox |
| Region of origin | England and Ireland |
| Other names | |
| Variant forms | Lane Fox, Vos, Voss, Fuchs, Shinnick, Tinney |
| Frequency Comparison: [1] | |
Fox is a surname originating in England and Ireland. Variants include Foxe and Foxx.
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. [2] [3] [4]
The main origin of the Fox surname in Ireland is Ó Sionnaigh, a respectable clan from the Irish Midlands who were rulers of Tethbae and later barons of Kilcoursey. They descend from Niall of the Nine Hostages son, Maine of Tethba of the Southern Uí Néill. . [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Other possible Fox surname origins in Ireland include Mac an tSionnaigh, de Bhosc and Mac Seancha. [12] [13] [14]
