Contents [hide]

Higman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Higman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Higman originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Hickman. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

Early Origins of the Higman family

The surname Higman was first found in Lincolnshire, where the Hickman family of Gainsborough trace back to Robert Fitz-Hickman, lord of the manors of Bloxham and Wickham. 1

Hykeman was listed with no forename and Walter Hikeman was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 in Oxfordshire. Richard Hykemon and Juliana Hykemones were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. 2

Early History of the Higman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higman research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1604, 1627, 1629, 1648, 1650, 1659, 1660, 1663, 1676, 1681, 1682, 1687, 1690, 1692, 1701, 1703, 1713, 1720, 1733 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Higman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higman Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Higman has appeared include Hickman, Hykeman, Hyckman and others.

Early Notables of the Higman family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Willoughby Hickman, 1st Baronet (1604-1650); Sir William Hickman, 2nd Baronet (1629-1682), an English politician, Member of Parliament for East Retford (1660); Sir Willoughby Hickman, 3rd Baronet (1659-1720); Sir Nevile Hickman, 4th Baronet (1701-1733); and Sir Nevile George Hickman, 5th Baronet (died 1781.)Henry Hickman (died 1692), was an English ejected minister and controversialist from Worcestershire; Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth (c.1627-1687), was Governor of Jamaica; and Charles...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Higman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Higman family to Ireland

Some of the Higman 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.

Higman migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Higman arrived in North America very early:

Higman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Ernest Higman, (b. 1874), aged 19, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th April 1893 en route to California, USA 3
Mr. Louis Higman, (b. 1857), aged 42, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th June 1899 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 3

Higman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas Higman, (b. 1882), aged 21, Cornish miner from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th April 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 3
Mr. William Higman, (b. 1869), aged 34, Cornish miner from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th July 1903 en route to Silverton, Colorado, USA 3
Mr. Ernest Higman, (b. 1879), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th July 1903 en route to Silverton, Colorado, USA 3
Mr. Guy Higman, (b. 1878), aged 25, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th July 1903 en route to Silverton, Colorado, USA 3

Higman migration to Australia +

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

Higman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Higman, (b. 1814), aged 25, Cornish farm labourer travelling aboard the ship "Lady Raffles" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 13th September 1839 4
Mr. John Higman, (b. 1825), aged 23, Cornish agricultural labourer from St. Neot, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "General Hewett" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 13th November 1848 4
Mrs. Amelia Higman, (b. 1825), aged 23, English settler from Morice Town, Plymouth, England, UK travelling aboard the ship "General Hewett" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 13th November 1848 4
Mr. Samuel Higman, (b. 1855), aged 22, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "Commonwealth" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 22nd June 1877 5
Miss Bessie Higman, (b. 1865), aged 22, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Dacca" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 14th December 1887 6

Higman 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:

Higman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Higman, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bee" arriving in New Zealand in 1832 7
Mrs. Cordelia Higman, (b. 1847), aged 23, Cornish settler departing on November 1870 aboard the ship "Charlotte Gladstone" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 21st January 1871 8
Mr. Robert Higman, (b. 1848), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on November 1870 aboard the ship "Charlotte Gladstone" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 21st January 1871 8
Mr. Jonathan Higman, (b. 1861), aged 17, Cornish farm labourer departing on 31st October 1878 aboard the ship "Northern Monarch" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 1st February 1879 9
Mr. John Higman, (b. 1861), aged 17, Cornish farm labourer departing on 31st October 1875 aboard the ship "Northern Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 1st February 1879 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Higman (post 1700) +

Howard Higman (1915-1995), American sociologist notable as the founder of The World Affairs Conference in 1948
Donald G. Higman (1928-2006), American mathematician
Graham Higman (1917-2008), British mathematician

The Higman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Toujours fidele
Motto Translation: Always faithful.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf