The name Brigan is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Yorkshire, where they lived in the village named Brigham. The place-name Brigham is derived from the Old English words Brycg and ham which literally mean bridge and homestead. 1
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Early Origins of the Brigan family
The surname Brigan was first found in the East Riding of Yorkshire at Brigham, a township, in the parish of Fostonupon-Wolds, union of Driffield, wapentake of Dickering. Brigham can also be found in the West division of Cumberland where it is a parish of some size. 2
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Early History of the Brigan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brigan research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1543, 1555 and 1558 are included under the topic Early Brigan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Brigan Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Brigan are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. 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. The variations of the name Brigan include: Briggam, Brigham, Brighame and others.
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Early Notables of the Brigan family
Distinguished members of the family include Nicholas Brigham (d. 1558), a Latin scholar and antiquarian, who gave up literature to practice in the law courts. In 1555, he built a tomb for the bones of Chaucer in Westminster Abbey. It is thought that "he was... Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brigan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Brigan family
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Brigan or a variant listed above: Richard Brigham settled in the New Netherlands in 1645; Thomas Brigham settled in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1645; John Brigham settled in Maryland in 1774.
England
