Oxford Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Oxford last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Oxford last name
Meaning of the Oxford last name: ford for oxen. Oxford is an English surname from the city of Oxford, "ford for oxen", from Old English oxa and ford. It is found in the south of England. This last name is rare. The Earls of Oxford, of the de Vere family, are unrelated. The surname also spread to America and Australia.
Arms associated with the Oxford name
In English heraldry, coats of arms associated with the Oxford name are described in a blazon, a short formal text.
Get your full Oxford family history
This is only a glimpse of the Oxford story. The full Oxford history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Oxford coat of arms. Get the full Oxford report.
Oxford name FAQ
What does the Oxford name mean?
Ford for oxen. Common variants include Oxenford.
Where does the Oxford surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Oxford coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Oxford coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).