This very interesting French name is widely recorded, Heraldically in Riestapps Amourial General, with no less than nine Coats of Arms being recorded. This is perhaps not surprising as, the name means the Holy One and is a semi descriptive nickname for a person of strong religious convictions or perhaps given the robust humour of the period - The opposite! The name holders were Counts of France, the Coat of Arms being Blue with three Silver Bends dexter. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Compte Le Houx. which was dated 1680, Paris, France. during the reign of King Louis XIV, The Sun King, 1643 - 1715. 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.