Higgins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 


There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Higgins originally appeared in Gaelic as "O huigin," which is derived from the word "uiging," which is akin to the Norse word "viking."

Early Origins of the Higgins family

The surname Higgins was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. This distinguished Irish Clann was a branch of the O'Neills, said to descend from a grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 4th century High King of Ireland and founder of the Uí Neill Clan.

Early History of the Higgins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higgins research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1490, 1501, 1578, 1595, 1624, 1659, 1661, 1670, 1679, 1691, 1720, 1735, 1796, 1801 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Higgins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higgins Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Higgins that are preserved in archival documents are Higgins, Higgin, O'Higgin, Higgans, Higgens and many more.

Early Notables of the Higgins family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

Higgins World Ranking

In the United States, the name Higgins is the 370th most popular surname with an estimated 74,610 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Higgins is ranked the 664th most popular surname with an estimated 7,845 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Higgins is the 519th popular surname with an estimated 89 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Higgins as 214th with 15,599 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Higgins as 328th with 1,907 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Higgins as 216th with 26,576 people. 6


Higgins migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Higgins to North America:

Higgins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Higgins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Higgins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Higgins Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Higgins migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Higgins Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Higgins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Higgins migration to Australia +

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

Higgins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Higgins 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:

Higgins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Higgins migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Higgins Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Higgins (post 1700) +


The Higgins 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: Pro patria
Motto Translation: For my country
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