The name Bygreave is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Hertfordshire, where they held lands and a family seat at Bygrave. Originally the surname was derived from the Old English word biggrafau which meant dweller by the ditch. This name is a toponymic, surname, which is derived from nearby geographical features.
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Early Origins of the Bygreave family
The surname Bygreave was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Bygrave in that shire. The name in Saxon was "Biggrafan" having nothing to do with the grave or being by a grave. Before the Norman Conquest Leommaer Bygrave held a family seat at Bygrave in the year 1015, and most likely gave his name to the village of that name. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book the Bygraves held their land which consisted of a village and a mill from the Bishop of Chester.
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Early History of the Bygreave family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bygreave research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1586, 1610, 1643 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Bygreave History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Bygreave 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 Bygreave 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 Bygreave include: Bygrove, Bygroves, Bygrave, Bygraves, Bigrove, Bigroves, Bigrave, Bigraves, Bargrave and many more.
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Early Notables of the Bygreave family
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bygreave Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Bygreave 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 Bygreave or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Bygrave who landed in Virginia in 1624.
England
