Surname Bigwood - Meaning and Origin
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Bigwood: What does the surname Bigwood mean?
The last name Bigwood is a topographical name originating from the Middle English and Olde English term “big wude” which is a combination of two words. “Big” meaning “large”, and “wude” meaning “wood”. This combination of two words reflects the original bearer's residence near a large wood, or forest.
Bigwood is typically found in areas that have a long history of Anglo-Saxon and Norman settlement, predominantly in the United Kingdom. Popular areas include Kent, Norfolk, Havering, and the old county of Yorkshire. These being in England, the roots and occupancy are likely the same people, or in circumstances of same.
The sometime behest of nobility to lower classes during Medieval times was to adopt a surname that would serve to identify the family and to differentiate them from the rest. Bigwood is one such name. These “add on” surnames were usually added the name of the father, as “son of Bigwood”, or the name of the place of residence, such as by a wood. These surnames oversaw a population boom in the British Isles during the 14th and 15th centuries.
Even today, the surname Bigwood serves to identify individuals with commonality to each other and to the location of their residence. It is an historic representation of families that likely share the same ancestry and culture, as they are proud to be from a place built by their forefathers.
Order DNA origin analysisBigwood: Where does the name Bigwood come from?
The surname Bigwood is commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, South Wales, and Scotland. It is not as widespread in the United States, but can be found scattered across the country.
The surname is derived from the Olde English term "Byghoode", which referred to a large forest, most likely referring to wealth in land ownership. Bigwood likely was the name of an English hamlet or village that was located in woodlands, leading to its local surname being adopted by those from the area.
Today, people with the surname Bigwood can be found primarily in England, with some Scottish outliers. In England, the highest concentrations of Bigwood are found in London, Kent, Bristol, Cambridge, and Wiltshire. In South Wales, the surname is most commonly found in Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire.
In the United States, Bigwood is more spread out, though concentrated in some specific states. The largest populations of the surname in the United States are in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
Though less common than some other surnames, Bigwood remains an evocative reminder of its historical origins. For those with the surname, it can act as a source of pride and a connection to the past.
Variations of the surname Bigwood
Bigwood is an English surname derived from the Old English words "bigga," meaning "tree," and "wudu," meaning "wood." It was most likely coined as a hereditary occupational name for a provider of timber wood. Variants of the surname Bigwood include Bigood, Biggwood, and Byggwood.
Spellings of Bigwood may vary depending on the compiler and transcriber of records from the Middle Ages. Common spellings for the surname are Byggwood, Bigod, Biggwood, Biogood, Bygood and Bigowder.
Through time, many interesting and variant surnames derived from Bigwood have come to be used by English families. Variants of Bigwood include Biggwood, Byggwood, Bigod, Byggin, Biggings, Bygood, Bignill, Bigwell, Bygott, Bigcutt, Bignel, Bigal, Bigall, Bignell, Biggan, Biggen, and Beggen.
In some cases, the surname Bigwood is used as a variant or combination with other surnames. An example is the surname Bigwood-Smyth, which is a combination of Bigwood and Smyth, a surname of English origin.
To conclude, the surname Bigwood is a unique and original English family name with various variant spellings, and it has since developed many fascinating derivative surnames.
Famous people with the name Bigwood
- Andy Bigwood: former English professional football goalkeeper who played in the Football League for Charlton Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Tim Bigwood: American Olympic alpine ski racer.
- John Bigwood: former Australian representative rugby union player who was involved in the development of professional rugby in Australia.
- Thomas Bigwood: nineteenth-century English writer and amateur cricketer.
- Tom Bigwood: former English professional footballer who played primarily as a forward in the Football League for Middlesbrough from 1901 to 1909.
- William Bigwood: eighteenth-century English professional cricketer.
- William Bigwood III: former English professional rugby union and rugby league player in the early twentieth century.
- Eliza Bigwood: nineteenth-century English folk singer and writer.
- Sidney Bigwood: former English professional association footballer who played in the Football League for Arsenal in the late 1800s.
- John Bigwood Jr.: former English professional footballer who played for various teams in England in the late nineteenth century.