Higinbotham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient history of the Higinbotham name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided at Higginbottom in the neighbourhood of Marple and Macclesfield, in East Cheshire. 1

Another source postulates that Oakenbottom in Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire was the the original homestead of the family and that it was "probably influenced by the dialect word hickin or higgin, the mountain ash." 2

Early Origins of the Higinbotham family

The surname Higinbotham was first found in Lancashire where Alexander de Akinbothun was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1246. 2

As a very rare name, the next entry for the family was over 300 hundred years later in the Prestbury Church, Cheshire where John Hyggynbothom was listed in 1563. The source Earwaker's East Cheshire included an entry for Nicholas Hichinbothome, of Marple gentleman in 1579 and the Lancashire, and Cheshire Record Society notes Alice Higginbotham, of Marple, 1595. 1

Early History of the Higinbotham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higinbotham research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1762 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Higinbotham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higinbotham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Higinbotham include Higginbottom, Higginbotham, Hickenbottom, Hickinbottom, Higgenbottom, Higginbothem, Higinbotham, Higinbothem and many more.

Early Notables of the Higinbotham family

Notables of the family at this time include Abel Joshua Higginbotham, English stowaway who was ejected from a ship at Madras port after he was discovered on board. After a brief internship working as a librarian for a Weslyan Book...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Higinbotham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higinbotham migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Higinbotham or a variant listed above:

Higinbotham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Higinbotham, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718

Higinbotham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Louisa Higinbotham, aged 29, who arrived in New York, N.Y. in 1919 aboard the ship "Charybdis" from Hamilton, Bermuda 3

Higinbotham migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Higinbotham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Higinbotham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Louisa Higinbotham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Charles Higinbotham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Frances Higinbotham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Martha Higinbotham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883

Contemporary Notables of the name Higinbotham (post 1700) +

U. Frank Higinbotham (b. 1858), American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Fayette County, 1909 4
F. E. Higinbotham, American Republican politician, Mayor of Bridgeport, West Virginia, 1947-48 4

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html