Ranefox on Family Tree Circles

I am looking for information regarding to the origin of the name Fox. I was told that understanding a foreigner was difficult, so when arriving in America, the names were sometimes phonetically spelled. FUCHS could be FOX, etc.

Also, I would like to hear about other links, locations, etc for finding out more information on the ships that traveled through the Atlantic around that time.

I will return with the actual names of the towns my grandparents came from.

My grandmother's family gave the new wedded couple passage to America as a present. I do not know from where they sailed from or where the actually set port.

Thanks for any info...

Jan Fox