| ![Show Contents]() Big History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Big was first found in Britina. It was a name for a large, stout, or strong man. The name is Old Norse in origin, and stems from the Old English root bigge. Early Origins of the Big familyThe surname Big was first found in Essex, where they had been granted lands by King William after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Early History of the Big familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Big research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1606, 1659 and 1917 are included under the topic Early Big History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Big Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Big are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Big include Biggs, Bigg, Big, Bigge, Byggs, Bygges, Bigges and others. Early Notables of the Big familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was - Tristram Biggs of Little Langford in Wiltshire
Big RankingIn the United States, the name Big is the 12,681st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Big familyFaced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Big, or a variant listed above: William Bigg who settled in Maryland in 1774; John Bigg settled in Virginia in 1653; Thomas Bigge settled in Barbados in 1681; Mary Bigges settled in Salem Mass in 1630.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Big (post 1700) | + |
- William Big Spring, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1972 2
- Big Daddy Graham (1953-2021), born Edward Gudonis, American comedian, writer, actor, recording artist, and sports radio personality on 94 WIP-FM in Philadelphia
- Big Chief Monk Boudreaux (b. 1941), the American Big Chief of the Mardi Gras Indian tribe, the Golden Eagles
- Big Jay McNeely (b. 1927), born Cecil James McNeely, American rhythm and blues tenor saxophonist
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