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Bigot History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Bigot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The proud Norman name of Bigot was developed in England soon after Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was name for a Norman or an excessively religious person. Normans were referred to as Bigots by the French, although the meaning of the word is unknown. After the 15th century, a nickname adapted from the phrase by God took on the form Bigot. There is some suggestion that the name in Normandy had been Wigot, and there was a line descended from Wigot de St.Denis, a great nobleman of Normandy, who made grants to Cerisy Abbey in 1042, and in 1050 subscribed a charter of Duke William at the head of the Norman barons. 1

Early Origins of the Bigot family

The surname Bigot was first found in Essex at Dunmow and Finchingfield, where they were granted lands by King William after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Roger Bigod is also listed in Domesday Book; he was a Sheriff, with large land holdings in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Marston-Biggott in Somerset was an ancient family seat. "This place derives the affix to its name from the Bigott family, to whom the manor for several centuries belonged, and the site of whose ancient mansion is still marked by the moat." 2

"Earl Roger, "noted for his singular skill in all warlike exercises," was one of the most accomplished knights of his day; and had few equals either in the tilt-yard or the field. His domain contained one hundred and sixty-two knight's fees: and he stands forth in history as the true type of the great feudal Seigneur, haughty in bearing and fearless of tongue, whose power in the realm might challenge-if it did not threaten-the authority of the King himself. His name is brought prominently before us in all the transactions of Henry III.'s reign." 1

Early History of the Bigot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bigot research. Another 284 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1095, 1096, 1107, 1144, 1150, 1166, 1177, 1182, 1209, 1214, 1220, 1221, 1225, 1227, 1245, 1266, 1270, 1298, 1306, 1508, 1515, 1522 and 1637 are included under the topic Early Bigot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bigot Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Bigot were recorded, including Bigot, Bigode, Bygod, Begod, Bigod, Wigot, Bidgood and many more.

Early Notables of the Bigot family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Roger le Bigod (1150-1220), son of Hugh Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk, who was recorded on the Falkirk Roll. This roll was a list of those at the Battle of Falkirk (July 22 1298), when the forces of Edward I defeated a Scottish army under William Wallace.Sir Francis...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bigot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bigot Ranking

In France, the name Bigot is the 280^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,055 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Bigot family to Ireland

Some of the Bigot 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.

Bigot migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Bigot arrived in North America very early:

Bigot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Bigot, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
V. Bigot who settled in San Francisco, California in 1851

Bigot migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bigot Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Guillaume Bigot, son of Louis and Bertrame, who married Marie Panis, daughter of Jacques and Marie, in Quebec on 3rd September 1639 5
François Bigot, son of François and Marguerite, who married Catherine Baillargeon, daughter of Mathurin and Marie, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on 8th December 1665 5
François Bigot, son of François and Marguerite, who married Marie Bouchard, daughter of Claude and Marguerite, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 24th October 1672 5

Bigot Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jacques Bigot, son of François and Marie, who married Madeleine Dupont, daughter of Jacques and Marguerite, in Quebec on 25th September 1703 5
François Bigot, son of François and Marie, who married Renée Beaudoin, daughter of René and Marie, in Champlain, Quebec on 16th April 1703 5
Jean-Baptiste Bigot, son of François and Marie, who married Céleste Turcot, daughter of Jacques and Anne, in Champlain, Quebec on 24th November 1712 5
François Bigot, son of François and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Perrot, daughter of Nicolas and Marie-Madeleine, in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec on 17th November 1715 5
Michel Bigot, son of François and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Toutan, daughter of Nicolas and Marie-Anne, in Champlain, Quebec on 22nd November 1717 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bigot (post 1700) +

Bernard Bigot (1950-2022), French academic, civil servant who served as the Director-General of the ITER organization between 2015 and 2022

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.