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Higson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Higson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Higson comes from the baptismal name Richard. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor 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 Higson family

The surname Higson was first found in Staffordshire at Hixon, a village in the borough of Stafford. The places dates back to before the Domesday Book 1 where it was listed as Hustedone and was held by the Bishop of Chester. By 1130, the village was named Hutchtesdona. The place was derived from the Old English personal name "Hick" + "dun" and literally means "hill of a man called Hydt". 2

Early History of the Higson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higson research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1381 is included under the topic Early Higson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higson 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 Higson has appeared include Hickson, Hixon and others.

Early Notables of the Higson family

More information is included under the topic Early Higson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Higson family to Ireland

Some of the Higson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higson 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 Higson arrived in North America very early:

Higson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ralph Higson, who landed in Virginia in 1638 3

Higson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Higson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Marquis Higson, who arrived in Canada in 1836
George Higson, who landed in Canada in 1841

Higson migration to Australia +

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

Higson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Higson, English convict who was convicted in Salford, Greater Manchester, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 28th July 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Higson (post 1700) +

Mr. George Higson, English coal mine fireman working in Clifton coal mine in Manchester on 18th June 1885, he was awarded the Albert Medal for lifesaving
John Higson (1825-1871), English local antiquary and topographer, of Lees, near Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, born in 1825 at Whitely Farm, Gorton, Lancashire 5
Leonard "Len" Higson, English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s through the 1940s
John Willie Higson, English professional rugby league footballer of the 1900s who played for Great Britain (1908-1909) and England (1908-1909)
Thomas Atkinson Higson (1911-1993), English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire from 1932 to 1935, son of Thomas Atkinson Higson
Thomas Atkinson Higson (1873-1949), English cricketer who played first class cricket for Oxford University in 1892
Charles Murray "Charlie" Higson (b. 1958), English actor, comedian and author
James Higson (b. 1876), English football forward who played for Manchester Wednesday and Manchester United
Miles Higson, British actor, best known for his role as Seth Costello in British Soap Opera Hollyoaks
Kenneth James Higson (1934-1988), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament for Lincoln (1972-1974)
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Higson family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. George Higson, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 6
Mr. Geoffrey Higson (b. 1921), English Petty Officer from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 6

The Higson 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: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html