Surname Higins - Meaning and Origin

Higins: What does the surname Higins mean?

The surname Higins is a variant of Higgins, which originates from Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'hUiginn," which means "descendant of Uiginn". The literal translation of the word "Uiginn" is Viking, suggesting that the ancestors of the clan were of Viking origins. Over time, as is common with many Irish patronymic surnames, the prefix "O'" (which means "descendant of") was dropped, resulting in the surname Higins or Higgins. It's important to note that spelling variations are common with surnames due to the translation between languages, changes in regional dialects over time, and Anglicization processes. Although the accurate meaning of Higins or Higgins is rooted in a family's genealogical history, it's generally agreed upon that the name signifies a lineage that likely includes Viking explorers who settled in Ireland.

Higins: Where does the name Higins come from?

The last name of Higins is most commonly seen in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is one of the most popular last names in both countries, ranking among the top fifty surnames in Ireland and in the top twenty in the UK during the 20th century. This name can also be found throughout English-speaking countries due to mass emigration from the British Isles during the 17th and 18th centuries to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also fairly common in some other parts of the world, such as South Africa, France, and Germany.

The origins of the Higgins surname is unclear, although it is believed to have been derived from the Latin personal name ‘Hugh’. This Latin name was later anglicized to Hugh and was commonly used as a personal name in the Middle Ages. The later use of Higins as a surname was likely due to its adoption as a patronymic naming system; that is, the last name is based on the father’s given name.

The Higgins name is also found in Nordic countries, such as Denmark, Norway, and Finland. In Norway, the spelling was commonly changed from Higgins to Higgensen, while in Finland the variant spelling of Higgis was most commonly used.

Today, the last name Higgins is relatively widespread, although its prevalence varies from country to country. In Ireland and the UK, it is one of the most common last names, while in the USA it is more sparsely represented. The Higgins name can also be found in other countries due to the mass emigration that occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Variations of the surname Higins

Higgins is a surnamethat has been adapted into various spellings and variants. The variants that have developed include Higgens, Higgons and Higgen.

The various spellings of Higgins can be attributed to the anglicized form of the Irish surname ​Ó hUigín​, deriving from the Gaelic personal name Uiginn, which originated as a byname meaning “Viking”. In some cases, the Irish surname ​Mac Uiginn​ may also have been reduced to Higgins.

Variations of the Higgins surname in other European countries include Higgen, Higgin, Highgin, Higgens, Higgenbottom, Higgett, Higinbotam, Highing, Higinbothom, Higgon, and Higson.

The similarity between names across countries is no coincidence, as many names derive from a common name or root. The first recorded spelling of the family name was in Ireland in the fifteenth century. The Higgins surname first appeared in England during the time of Elizabeth I, though all these forms of the name could go back as far as the Normans conquest of the island in the 11th century.

The Higgins surname could also be of Dutch, Spanish or English origin, but there is less available evidence to back up these claims. The Dutch surname Higgens and its variations are Anglicized forms of the Dutch name ​van Hegge​, which may be related to the Middle English term ‘heg’ meaning ‘hay’. The Spanish Higgins is derived from the given name Hijo, which translates to ‘son’ in Spanish. Lastly, the English surname Higgins could also be a variant of Higginson, derived from the Old English personal name Hyglyn or Higel, formed with the elements hyge meaning ‘mind’ or ‘thought’ and lyn which translates to ‘light.’

Higgins is a common surname with many different variations and forms, tracing back to several origins and locations around the world.

Famous people with the name Higins

• Liza Higgins: Former Executive Vice President at Naspers Group
• James Claude Higgins: Award-winning American author and illustrator
• Christopher Higgins: Professional ice hockey right wing who currently plays for TPS Turku
• William Augustus Higgins: Royal Air Force Group Captain and political figure in British Guiana
• Dominic Higgins: British DJ and producer best known as DJ and producer Switch
• Michael John Higgens: Anglican Bishop of Worcester
• William Higgens: Co-founder, President and former CEO of Cisco Systems
• Donnell Higgens: Retired American professional baseball player
• Rod Higgens: Retired American basketball player
• Tiffany Higgens: Award-winning American actress
• Kenny Higgins: Retired Major League Baseball pitcher
• Nettie Higgins: Retired American professional golfer
• Christopher Higgins: Canadian theoretical physicist
• John F. Higgens: Canadian attorney and former Ontario Superior Court judge
• Jane Higgens: British banker

Other surnames

Higin