Riggin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Riggin comes from the family having resided in Cumberland and Lancashire. This local name was derived from the local at the ridge or near a ridge. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. The surname Riggin comes from the Old English word rigge, or the Old English word hrycg, both of which mean ridge. 1 2

Early Origins of the Riggin family

The surname Riggin was first found in Shropshire where William de Rigge was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1197-1198. Later and further to the north, John del Rigg was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332 in Cumberland. 3

Early History of the Riggin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riggin research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1567, 1591, 1601, 1602, 1612, 1613, 1635 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Riggin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riggin Spelling Variations

Riggin has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Rigge, Rigg, Riggs and others.

Early Notables of the Riggin family

Distinguished members of the family include Robert Rigge, Rygge or Rugge (died 1410), English Chancellor of the University of Oxford, a native of Devonshire, and possibly a relative of Thomas de Bitton, bishop of Exeter. 4Ambrose Rigg or Rigge (1635-1705), was an English Quaker, born at Brampton in Westmorland. He and his companion Thomas Robertson went to Rochester...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Riggin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Riggin family to Ireland

Some of the Riggin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Riggin family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Riggins to arrive on North American shores: William Rigg, who settled in New Jersey in 1685; along with Eupham; John and Thomas Rigges settled in Virginia in 1663; Richard Riggs settled in Virginia in 1637.

Contemporary Notables of the name Riggin (post 1700) +

William Riggin, American politician, U.S. Consul in Trieste, 1802-15 5
Lena Riggin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1940 5
Fred L. Riggin Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1964 5
Emory B. Riggin, American politician, Member of Delaware State House of Representatives from Sussex County, 1897-98 5
Dennis Melville Riggin (1936-2016), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player who played 18 games for the Detroit Red Wings
William Riggin Travers (1819-1887), American lawyer who was highly successful on Wall Street

The Riggin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dum vivo cano
Motto Translation: While alive celebrate.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html