Tauxe

Tauxe is a surname of French-Swiss origin, with perhaps 40 or so individuals extant (in the United States) still bearing it. Many more Tauxes exist in the environs of Lausanne, Switzerland. It originated as a yeoman line in the 15th century, probably deriving its move to the bourgeousie from involvement in revenue operations ('taux' is french for 'tax' or 'tell' as in 'bank teller').

The US Tauxes trace their American roots to the family of Tauxes that moved from Switzerland to East Tennessee around 1886. They have not been able to establish links to the Tauxes that still inhabit Switzerland.

Pronunciation

"Tauxe" is pronounced to rhyme with 'oaks' or 'smokes'. It is homonymous with 'tokes', making it the butt of many 'jokes'.

French Family Motto

A flots me ris, a Dieu me fie, jamais ne plie

Translation: I laugh at floods, I trust in God, I never bow.

History

The Tauxe family members were largely the descendants of a band of roaming minstrels who shared the same name. Eventually finding a home in Switzerland, the Tauxe family settled in the town of Lausanne, where they prospered for many years after. During a famine in the late 1800's a group of Tauxes broke off from their Swiss relatives and started a new life in America, settling in East Tennessee. From there they spread throughout the United States, maintaining good contact with each other.

Arms

The arms of the Tauxe family are, per fess on a field azure above, an eagle or displayed; on a field or below, three mullets azure arranged in an inverted triangle formation.