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Rigby History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Rigby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Rigby comes from the family having resided in the parish of Rigsby in the county of Lincolnshire. Rigby is a habitation name which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. Habitiation names were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads and indicated where a man held his land and estates.

Early Origins of the Rigby family

The surname Rigby was first found in Lincolnshire at Rigsby listed in the Domesday Book as Rigesbi and Righesbi, land held by the Archbishop of York. Herbert the archbishop's man held one plough, three villans and four boarders with two oxen. In total it comprised ninety acres of pasture and sixty acres of woodland. 1 Today the village is part of the civil parish of Rigsby with Ailby in the East Lindsey district.

Early History of the Rigby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rigby research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1594, 1600, 1620, 1650, 1659, 1671 and 1694 are included under the topic Early Rigby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rigby Spelling Variations

Rigby 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: Rigbye, Rigbie, Rigby and others.

Early Notables of the Rigby family

Distinguished members of the family include

Saint John Rigby (ca. 1570-1600), an English Roman Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
Alexander Rigby (1594-1650), was an English parliamentary colonel and Baron of the Exchequer, the eldest son of Alexander Rigby of Wigan
Alexander Rigby (1620-1694), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Lancashire in 1659
Joseph Rigby (died 1671), was an English parliamentarian, of Aspull, near Wigan, Lancashire, third son of Alexander Rigby of Wigan, and brother of Alexander Rigby, Baron of the Exchequer. 2

Rigby World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rigby is the 4,467^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Rigby is ranked the 857^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,619 people with that name. 4 And in the United Kingdom, the name Rigby is the 539^th popular surname with an estimated 12,088 people with that name. 5

Rigby migration to the United States +

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 Rigbys to arrive on North American shores:

Rigby Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert, Dorothy and Roger Rigby, who all, who settled in Virginia in 1638
Roger Rigby, who landed in Virginia in 1639 6
Peter Rigby, who landed in Virginia in 1639 6
Edward Rigby, who arrived in Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1654 6
Catherine Rigby, who arrived in Maryland in 1659 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rigby Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Rigby, who settled in Virginia in 1706 with his son Roger
John Rigby, who settled in Virginia in 1737
Joe Rigby, who settled in Georgia in 1737

Rigby Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Rigby, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 6
Timothy Rigby, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 6
William Rigby, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 6
George Rigby, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
Mrs. Grace Rigby, aged 23, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rigby migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rigby Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Henry Rigby, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Mr. John Rigby U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 7

Rigby migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rigby Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Rigby, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
William Rigby, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Thomas Rigby, (b. 1794), aged 28, English gun smith who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. Jonathan Rigby, (b. 1808), aged 23, English weaver who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Samuel Rigby, English convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rigby 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:

Rigby Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Samuel Rigby, aged 39, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Seringapatam" in 1856
Emmanuel Rigby, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Reiherstieg" in 1864
Miss Rigby, British settler travelling from London with 2 female family members aboard the ship "Norfolk" arriving in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand on 18th June 1880 13
Mrs. Rigby, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norfolk" arriving in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand on 18th June 1880 13
Mr. A. W. Rigby, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norfolk" arriving in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand on 18th June 1880 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rigby (post 1700) +

Cathleen Roxanne Rigby (b. 1952), former Olympic gymnast, actress and speaker
William O. Rigby, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1908; Mayor of Topeka, Kansas, 1927-31 14
W. T. Rigby, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 3rd District, 1864-65 14
Lucy A. Rigby, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 1948 14
L. Y. Rigby, American politician, Mayor of Rexburg, Idaho, 1923-27 14
L. Cyrus Rigby, American politician, Representative from New York 37th District, 1940 14
Joseph P. Rigby (b. 1906), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County 4th District, 1951-52, 1955-60; Defeated, 1960 14
Hazel Rigby, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 2008 14
Harold B. Rigby, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Idaho, 1940 14
Harlo B. Rigby, American politician, Mayor of Rexburg, Idaho, 1935-37 14
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rigby family +

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Sarah Ann Rigby (1871-1914), née Bourne English Third Class Passenger from Liverpool, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 15

HMS Dorsetshire

Joe Rigby, British aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 16

HMS Hood

Mr. Benjamin G Rigby (b. 1923), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Miles Platting, Manchester, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 17

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. N Rigby, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 18

RMS Lusitania

Mr. G. Rigby, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 19

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/