Show ContentsRigbye History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Rigbye is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the parish of Rigsby in the county of Lincolnshire. Rigbye is a habitation name which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. Habitiation names were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads and indicated where a man held his land and estates.

Early Origins of the Rigbye family

The surname Rigbye was first found in Lincolnshire at Rigsby listed in the Domesday Book as Rigesbi and Righesbi, land held by the Archbishop of York. Herbert the archbishop's man held one plough, three villans and four boarders with two oxen. In total it comprised ninety acres of pasture and sixty acres of woodland. 1 Today the village is part of the civil parish of Rigsby with Ailby in the East Lindsey district.

Early History of the Rigbye family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rigbye research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1594, 1600, 1620, 1650, 1659, 1671 and 1694 are included under the topic Early Rigbye History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rigbye Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Rigbye has been spelled many different ways, including Rigbye, Rigbie, Rigby and others.

Early Notables of the Rigbye family

Distinguished members of the family include Saint John Rigby (ca. 1570-1600), an English Roman Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.Alexander Rigby (1594-1650), was an English parliamentary colonel and Baron of the Exchequer, the eldest...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rigbye Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Rigbye migration to Australia +

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

Rigbye Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Thomas Rigbye, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 2
  • jane Rigbye, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 2
  • Ann Rigbye, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 2
  • Eleanore Rigbye, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 2
  • Beatrice Maria Rigbye, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Rigbye 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:

Rigbye Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Rigbye, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1863 3


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY LILFORD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyLilford.htm
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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