This interesting surname is a rare variant form of "Moxon", itself one of the very earliest of English surname recordings (see below). The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century baptismal name "Mocca", although it is possible that some name holders may derive from a later nickname "Mog", a shortened form of Margaret. The present spelling is dialectal, and a direct link from the original Mocesun, through Mokesson, one John Mokesson being recorded in the Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, in Yorkshire, to Mockson, Richard Mockson being recorded at the church of St. Botolph without Aldgate, London, on December 14th 1690. On May 27th 1746, Elizabeth Moakson married William Wild at St. Pauls, Covent Garden, and on December 12th 1789, Elizabeth, daughter of David Moakson, was christened at Romford, Essex, in the reign of George 111 (1760 - 1789). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sivuard Mocesun, which was dated 1087, recorded in the Feudal Documents of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, during the reign of King William, known as "Rufus", 1087 - 1100. 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.