Surname Bigg - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bigg: What does the surname Bigg mean?
The last name Bigg is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have derived from an Old English personal name 'Bicca'. It is also thought to be a topographic or occupational surname relating to someone who lived by or worked at a place particularly associated with a 'beacon', from the Old English term 'beacn'. However, it may also be a nickname expressing size, either literally referring to a large person or ironically for a small person, from the Middle English term 'bigge'. The surname first surfaced in historical manuscripts in Essex with one John Bigge during the 12th Century. It might have different spellings such as Bigge, Biggs, Bigg, Bigger, and others. The interpretations of surnames are subject to numerous possibilities and it is often that surnames such as Bigg have more than one origin, therefore more than one meaning, stemming from different geographical locations and periods. Like many surnames, meaning and origin must be considered speculative rather than definitive.
Order DNA origin analysisBigg: Where does the name Bigg come from?
The surname Bigg originates from England and it is an example of a size-related surname, which was a type of nickname given to a person that described their physical attributes, character traits, occupation, or place of origin. The surname Bigg was given to a large or strong person. The earliest recordings of this surname appear in the county of Norfolk in East Anglia, England around the 12th century.
Today, it is less common and is not concentrated in a specific region. However, it can still be found in greater numbers in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Some variations of the surname include Biggs, Bigge or Big. Despite its relative rarity, notable people with the name have contributed to its fame, including English botanist Frederick Bigg and American rapper Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G.
Variations of the surname Bigg
The surname Bigg originates from Old English and can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It denotes a person who was large or tall, often used as a nickname before it became a surname. The term "Bigg" itself links back to the Old English word 'bigge' meaning "strong."
Variations of the surname Bigg can include Biggs, Bigge, Big, Bigger, Bygg, Bigga, Bigger, Biggen, Biggin, and Biggings. There might also exist more localized or colloquial versions depending upon geographic distribution.
Similar surnames include Biggins and Biggen, which are of the same origin and carry similar meanings. Bege or Begge could be older variants. One must consider that surnames often changed over time due to illiteracy and different dialects. The phonetic structure of the surname gave rise to many versions.
In terms of spelling, it can change depending on regional and cultural interpretation, as well as the passage through generations.
The surname Bigg or its variants continue to be largely prevalent amongst English-speaking populations.
Famous people with the name Bigg
- Chris Biggs, Australian TV presenter
- Bill Biggs, American musician
- David Biggs, British admiral
- Lee Biggs, American NASCAR driver
- Janice Biggs, Canadian writer
- Judson Biggs, American actor
- Manuel Biggs, Brazilian footballer
- John Biggs, British politician
- May Biggs, American silent film actress
- Debbie Biggs, American figure skater