Troxell
A surname likely developed as an Americanized spelling of a Swiss German name related to Trachsel.
The #7,008 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 64,591 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is usually treated as an American spelling of the Swiss German surname Trachsel, with the change in spelling reflecting English-language adaptation after migration. The older form is generally connected with a Germanic root that referred to a stroke, mark, or similar notion, though exact details can vary in older surname books. In practice, Troxell is best understood as an imported family name that was reshaped in the United States.
History
The surname appears in American records in forms influenced by German-speaking immigration, especially from Swiss or Swiss-German backgrounds. Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century surname writers often linked Troxell directly with Trachsel, suggesting a spelling evolution rather than a wholly separate origin. Today it is most strongly associated with the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname references explicitly equate Troxell with Trachsel, showing how strongly American spellings could diverge from the original form.
From the historical record
“Trexler = Trechsler, Trout = Traut, Troxell = Trachsel, Trumbauer, p. 310 Tschantz, p. 318 Tschudi, p. 313 Turck, p. 317 Tyson = Theissen,”
— Studies in Pennsylvania German Family Names