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From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2009

Origins Available: English-Alt, English

Where did the English Riggs family come from? What is the English coat of arms/family crest? When did the Riggs family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Riggs is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Cumberland and Lancashire. This local name was dervided 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 Riggs comes from the Old English word rigge, or the Old English word hrycg, both of which mean ridge. The earliest recorded members of the Riggs family lived in Lancashire.

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Riggs family name include Rigge, Rigg, Riggs and others.

First found in Lancashire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Riggs surname or a spelling variation of the name include : 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.

Motto Translated: While alive celebrate.

For more information on the last name Riggs, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Riggs
  • Genealogical Notes on a Branch of the Family of Mayes by Edward Mayes.
  • More About the Riggs Family, 1590-1973 by Clara Nichols Duggan.

Some noteworthy people of the name Riggs
  • Dudley Riggs (b. 1932), American comedian
  • Elmer S. Riggs (1869-1963), American paleontologist
  • Jerry Riggs, American rock musician, founder of the band Riggs
  • Jim Riggs (b. 1941), American saxophonist
  • Scott Riggs (b. 1971), American race car driver
  • Thomas Christmas Riggs Jr. (1873-1945), American politician and governor of Alaska
  • Robert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs (1918-1995), American tennis player, former World No. 1 and the co-World No. 1 amateur player in the 1940s
  • Dax Riggs, musician
  • Derek Riggs, British artist
  • Frank Riggs (b. 1950), Californian politician


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Riggs family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Riggs coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Riggs genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Riggs Family Crest Products


Anniversary products for the name Riggs.
Apparel showing the Riggs family crest.
Armorial histories for the name Riggs.
Ceramics showing the Riggs family crest.
Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Riggs.
Downloads with the family crest for the name Riggs.
Family Crest for the name Riggs.
Family Tree with a Riggs coat of arms.
Hand Painted Plaques for the Riggs family crest.
Keychains displaying the family crest for the name Riggs.
Mouse pads revealing the Riggs family crest.
New Products emphasing the Riggs family crest.
Packages for the Riggs family crest.
Plaques and Frames showing the Riggs family crest.
Surname Histories for the name Riggs.
Symbolism proudly displaying the Riggs family crest.
Travel Mugs for the Riggs family crest.
Popular Products
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The Riggs Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Riggs Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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