Show ContentsRigg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The lineage of the name Rigg begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived near a ridge. Rigg is a local surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. The surname Rigg comes from the Old English word rigge, or the Old English word hrycg, both of which mean ridge. The earliest recorded members of the Rigg family lived in Lancashire.

Early Origins of the Rigg family

The surname Rigg was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Rigg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rigg research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1567 is included under the topic Early Rigg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rigg Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rigge, Rigg, Riggs and others.

Early Notables of the Rigg family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir Thomas Rigg of Atherny

Rigg Ranking

In the United States, the name Rigg is the 11,467th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Rigg family to Ireland

Some of the Rigg 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.


United States Rigg migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rigg Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alice Rigg, who landed in Virginia in 1665 2
  • William Rigg, who settled in New Jersey in 1685 along with Eupham
  • William Rigg, who landed in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 2
Rigg Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jane Rigg, who landed in Virginia in 1714 2
Rigg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Rigg, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1828 2
  • Edward Corner Rigg, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 2

Australia Rigg migration to Australia +

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

Rigg Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Rigg, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Mr. John Rigg, (b. 1824), aged 18, English labourer who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 15 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1863 4
  • Mr. Thomas Rigg, (Wrigg), English convict who was convicted in Knutsford (Nether Knutsford), Cheshire, England for 7 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
  • George Rigg, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Countess of Yarborough" in 1850 6

New Zealand Rigg 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:

Rigg Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Louisa Rigg, Canadian settler travelling from Prince Edward Island aboard the ship "Prince Edward" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th May 1859 7
  • Mr. James J. Rigg, Canadian settler travelling from Prince Edward Island aboard the ship "Prince Edward" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th May 1859 7
  • Mr. John R. Rigg, Canadian settler travelling from Prince Edward Island aboard the ship "Prince Edward" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th May 1859 7
  • Miss Louisa J. Rigg, Canadian settler travelling from Prince Edward Island aboard the ship "Prince Edward" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th May 1859 7
  • Mr. Gregory B. Rigg, Canadian settler travelling from Prince Edward Island aboard the ship "Prince Edward" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th May 1859 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rigg (post 1700) +

  • Dame Enid Diana Rigg DBE (1938-2020), English BAFTA, Emmy and Tony award winning actress, best known for her portrayal of Emma Peel in The Avengers
  • Ernest H. Rigg, American Republican politician, Mayor of Woodbury, New Jersey, 1929-1930 8
  • James F. Rigg, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories
  • John D. Rigg, American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Preston County, 1877, 1883-84; Delegate to Republican National Convention from West Virginia, 1900 8
  • Clement Rigg (1899-1966), English professional footballer who played in 254 matches as a full back (1920-1930)
  • Sean Michael Rigg (b. 1988), English former professional footballer who played on the wing or as a striker.
  • Keith Rigg (1906-1995), Australian cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1931 to 1937
  • James Harrison Rigg (1821-1909), English nonconformist minister and Methodist educator, President of the Methodist Conference (1878-1879)
  • Richard Rigg (1872-1964), English-born, Canadian Methodist minister and politician in Manitoba, Canada
  • Rebecca Rigg (b. 1967), Australian actress, best known for her roles in Fatty Finn and Ellie Parker
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COUNTESS OF YARBOROUGH 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850CountessYarborough.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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