This interesting surname, with variant spellings Doxsey and Docksey, is of English locational origin from a place West of Stafford, Staffordshire, called Doxey. Recorded as Dochesig in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as Dokeseia in the 1168 Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, the place is believed to be so called from the old English pre 7th Century "docce", meaning "dock" or "Water-lily"), plus the old English "eg", land situated on a stream. The first element may also be the genitive case of the old English personal name Ducc, also found in such placenames as Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and Doxford, Northumberland. The surname first appears on record in the latter part of the 13th Century, (see below). Other early recordings include: Robert de Dockesey - the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire, and Richard de Dokeseye, a witness in the 1298 Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire. On February 21st 1679, George Doxey and Mary Waring were married in Leek, Staffordshire. A Coat of Arms granted to the family depicts a blue lion rampant oppressed with a red bend on a gold shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh de Dokesey, which was dated 1272, in the "Hundred Rolls of Staffordshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.