Pidgeon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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Pidgeon is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Pidgeon family when they emigrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Pidgeon comes from the ancient and forgotten given name Prujean. Alternatively, the name could have been a nickname derived from the Middle English word "pygeon" as "bird-names are among the most common of the nickname class of surnames. 1

Interestingly, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae of 1180-1195 lists John Pichon, Normandy 1180-1195. This could point to either another origin or that the name was in fact originally a Norman name. 2

Early Origins of the Pidgeon family

The surname Pidgeon was first found in various counties and shires throughout ancient Britain. Alan Pigun was the first record of the family and he was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1200 and the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1202. Ralf Pyjun was listed in the Assise Rolls of Somerset in 1268. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Pigun in Norfolk and Richard Pigun in Cambridgeshire. 4

The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex list a wide range of phonetic variants: "Relicta Pygon, 1296; Relicta Pijohan, John Petijohan, John Pyion, John Pyion, Jopn Petiion and Thomas Pyion 1327. " 3

Early History of the Pidgeon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pidgeon research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1593 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Pidgeon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pidgeon Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Pidgeon were recorded, including Pigeon, Pidgeon and others.

Early Notables of the Pidgeon family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pidgeon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pidgeon Ranking

In the United States, the name Pidgeon is the 13,956^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Pidgeon family to Ireland

Some of the Pidgeon 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.

Pidgeon migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Pidgeon arrived in North America very early:

Pidgeon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph Pidgeon, who landed in New England in 1718 6
John and Mary Pidgeon, who settled in Virginia in 1728
Henry Pidgeon, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 6

Pidgeon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter and John Pidgeon, who settled in Philadelphia in 1806
Michael Pidgeon, who arrived in Mississippi in 1854 6
Mrs. Francis Pidgeon, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1875 6

Pidgeon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pidgeon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Pidgeon, aged 26 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Wolfville" departing 25th April 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but he died on board 7

Pidgeon migration to Australia +

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

Pidgeon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Catherine Pidgeon, (b. 1799), aged 19, Irish servant who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

Pidgeon 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:

Pidgeon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Pidgeon, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline Coventry" in 1869 9
Mr. Benjamin Pidgeon, (b. 1847), aged 27, English carpenter from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 10
Mrs. Mary Pidgeon, (b. 1847), aged 27, English settler from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 10
Mr. Frank B Pidgeon, (b. 1870), aged 4, English settler from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 10
Miss Florence Pidgeon, (b. 1866), aged 8, English settler from Essex travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pidgeon (post 1700) +

Walter Davis Pidgeon (1897-1984), Canadian two-time Academy Award winning actor, known for Mrs. Miniver (1942) and Madame Curie (1943), Green Was My Valley (1941), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Forbidden Planet (1956), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961), Advise & Consent (1962), Funny Girl (1968), and Harry in Your Pocket (1973), awarded a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1975.
Harry Pidgeon (1869-1954), American sailor, the second solo person to circumnavigate the world
Jose E. Pidgeon, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 17th District, 1920 11
Henry Clark Pidgeon (1807-1880), English painter in water-colours and antiquary
William Edwin Wep Pidgeon (b. 1909), Australian painter who won the Archibald Prize three times
The Very Reverend George Campbell Pidgeon (1872-1971), Canadian minister, first in the Presbyterian Church in Canada and then in the United Church of Canada, as well as the last Moderator of the Presbyterian Church before amalgamation
Emily Pidgeon (b. 1989), English athlete who specializes in long and middle distance events
William John Gilmour Pidgeon (1947-2016), British journalist, author, music historian
Rebecca Pidgeon (b. 1965), Scottish actress, singer and songwriter, and the wife of playwright David Mamet