The name Axestus was proposed in 1872 by Prof. Cope for a genus of trionychid tortoises, found in the Eocene deposits of Wyoming_ The species A. byssinus was further described and figured by Prof. Cope in 1884.§ The name is however preoccupied.

It may be modified into Axestemys .

Axetus was employed in 1834 by Dejean for a genus of beetles.