Surname Baggs - Meaning and Origin
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Baggs: What does the surname Baggs mean?
Baggs is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a topographic name for someone living near a ridge, derived from an Old English word "baga" which means "badger". In this context, it means a "dweller at the sign of the badger or bag".
It's also possible that it could be occupational, signifying a maker or seller of bags. In some cases, it might be a nickname deriving from the Middle English term "bagge", which refers to a bulbous shape and was used to denote someone with a paunch.
Moreover, in early medieval written records, the name can be found in various forms, such as Bagge, Bag, and Baggs. The addition of an "s" may imply 'son of' or 'descendant of.' While relatively uncommon today, various historical immigrations have spread this surname to numerous countries around the world.
However, like many surnames, the exact origins can be difficult to trace, and those bearing the surname Baggs may not all share the same lineage or origin story.
Order DNA origin analysisBaggs: Where does the name Baggs come from?
The surname Baggs has its origins in the pre-medieval era in England. It is considered to have been derived from the Old Norse-Viking word 'baggi', which means a bag or sack. The name was likely used as a metonymic occupational name, referring to a maker or carrier of bags. The surname was first recorded in Somerset, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor.
Over time, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles, and during the era of mass emigration from Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was taken to numerous other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand among others.
Given its British origins, the surname Baggs still occurs more frequently in English-speaking countries. According to recent data, it is most common in the United States, followed by England, Canada, and Australia. Nevertheless, it's a fairly rare surname — for instance, it ranks as the 32,579th most common surname in the United States.
Variations of the surname Baggs
The surname Baggs is of Old English origin and has a few potential known variants and similar spellings. It's believed to have been derived from the medieval English surname "Bagge," which was itself likely a nickname of some sort.
Some of its variants and similar spellings can include Bagge, Bagg, Bag, Bags, Baggus, Bagges, and Bagis. Sometimes, surnames can also have a 'son' added, resulting in versions like Bagson or even Baggeson.
The surname could also have evolved into surnames with similar meanings in different languages; an example of this is the German surname "Sack," which also refers to a bag or sack.
It's noteworthy that variations in surnames can emerge from simple spelling errors, adoptions, or deliberate changes made by the ancestry bearers. Therefore, some variants might be quite different from the original surname.
Also, it's worth mentioning that some people may add prefixes or suffixes to the name, based on their regional or linguistic preferences, which can lead to entirely unique surnames rooted in the original name "Baggs".
Famous people with the name Baggs
- Lloyd Baggs: He is a renowned industry innovator in the field of acoustic guitar pickups and preamps. He is the founder and CEO of L.R. Baggs, a company that designs and manufactures acoustic guitar pickups, microphones, and preamps.
- Clive Baggs: He is a well-known cricket umpire who was actively involved in the cricket scene during the late 1970s to early 1980s.
- Michael Baggs: Known for being a journalist, particularly in radio where he’s worked for BBC Radio 1.
- Larry Baggs: An American former baseball player. He played professional baseball as a catcher in the minor leagues.
- Chris Baggs: He’s a radio host and program director on ESPN 1520 in Buffalo, New York.
- Dean Baggs: A successful rugby player, notably for Pontypool RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC. These are a few examples of famous individuals bearing the Baggs surname. However, it is worth noting that the surname is uncommon, and many of these individuals may be regionally famous within their respective fields.