Show ContentsHinginson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of Hinginson was Ó hUgin, which is derived from the word uiging, which is akin to the Norse word Viking. 1

Early Origins of the Hinginson family

The surname Hinginson was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from early times.

Early History of the Hinginson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hinginson research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1588, 1616, 1629, 1630, 1652, 1692, 1698, 1708 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Hinginson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hinginson Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Hinginson revealed spelling variations, including Higginson, Hickinson, Hickenson, Hickeson and many more.

Early Notables of the Hinginson family

Notable among the family name at this time was Isabel Hickinson who was buried at St. Johns Church, Dublin. Francis Higginson (1588-1630), was an English-born Puritan minister who led a group of about 350 settlers on six ships from England to New England in 1629, one year before the Winthrop Fleet. He became the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts. A portion of his diary was published in 1630 under the title, "New Englands Plantation, or a Short and True...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hinginson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hinginson family

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Hinginson family came to North America quite early: Anne, Charles, Frances, John, Mary, Neophytus, Samuel, Pheophilus, Timothy Higginson, who all settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1629; Humphrey Higginson settled in Virginia in 1635.



The Hinginson 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: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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