Surname Higginson - Meaning and Origin

Higginson: What does the surname Higginson mean?

The surname Higginson is of English origin and has a rich historical lineage. It is derived from the medieval personal name Higgin, a diminutive of the name Hick, which is a pet form of the given name Richard. The suffix "son" suggests ‘son of Higgin’, indicating a patronymic relationship. Richard is of Germanic origin and means "powerful" or "brave", specifically it means "hard-ruler". Therefore, in a broader sense, Higginson could mean 'son of the powerful' or 'son of the brave.' The name Higginson likely arose independently in various parts of England, resulting in different branches of the Higginson family. It is most common in northern England, especially Lancashire. As with many surnames, over centuries, family members have migrated and the name has spread around the world.

Higginson: Where does the name Higginson come from?

The surname Higginson is regarded as an Anglo-Saxon name. It's believed to have originated in England, specifically from an ancient Cheshire family who lived in the town of Higginson. The name is a patronymic form of the personal name "Hig" or "Higg", a diminutive of the name "Hugh". The suffix "son" denotes "son of", hence the name translates to "son of Hig" or "son of Hugh".

Like many surnames, Higginson was carried to various parts of the world through emigration, particularly to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, it is fairly widespread, but remains most common in England, specifically in the northern regions. It's also reasonably common in the United States. Throughout history, there have been notable individuals bearing this surname including Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a prominent American author and abolitionist, and Charles Higginson, an Australian rugby league player. Like many other surnames of British origin, the distribution and prevalence of the Higginson name correlate with the patterns of British colonization and immigration worldwide.

Variations of the surname Higginson

The surname Higginson is of English origin and came from the medieval personal name Higgin, a pet form of Hick. Surnames of the same origin could include Hicks, Hickson, and Higgins. Spellings and variants of the surname Higginson may include Higgenson, Higgeson, Higgison, Higgans, Higgin, and Higgen.

It's also worth noting that in the complex realm of surnames, many could change over time due to dialect, literacy level, and personal preference. Spelling variations might have occurred due to an individual's interpretation or pronunciation of a surname, as many people at that time were illiterate and could not standardize names to a specific spelling. Within the same family, one could find different spellings of the same surname.

Furthermore, surnames could have been anglicized, or changed to sound more English, especially by immigrants coming to English-speaking countries. Certain Anglicized versions may have become entirely new surnames over time. Thus, it may be feasible to find more variants or similar surnames to Higginson depending on the geographical and historical context.

Famous people with the name Higginson

• Thomas Wentworth Higginson: an American Unitarian minister, author, abolitionist, soldier and one of the first promoters of the work of Emily Dickinson.
• John Higginson: a British Member of Parliament representing the constituency of East Looe.
• William Higginson: an American fisherman and seaman.
• Thomas Higginson: an English-born English politician at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
• Thomas Higginson Jr.: an American investment banker and heir to the Higginson family fortune.
• Katherine Lawler Higginson: an American who campaigned for women's suffrage.
• Charles Higginson: an American politician who served in the Massachusetts General Court.
• Jean Louisa Higginson: daughter of the poet Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
• Samuel Adams Higginson: an American clergyman, poet and abolitionist.
• Frederick Law Higginson: an American attorney and member of the United States Senate from Massachusetts.
• Mary Higginson: an American who played a major role in the history of combs in the United States.
• Susan Higginson: an American feminist and social activist.
• Thomas B. Higginson: an American physician and author.
• Surveyor George Higginson: an early explorer of the west coast of Australia who surveyed much of present-day Perth.

Other surnames

Higgins