Show ContentsBagby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bagby family

The surname Bagby was first found in Suffolk and Nottingham where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One source notes that the family could have been from Bigby, a parish, in the union of Caistor, S. division of the wapentake of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, in Lincolnshire. [1]

To the south in Devon, we found this interesting entry for the family: Bigbury [in the parish of Modbury] was held by lords of that name as early as the reign of John ; and after nine descents was brought by a coheiress to one of the Champernownes of Beer Ferrers, from whom it descended through the Willoughbys to the Paulets. There is a fifteenth-century Bigbury brass in the church." [2]

Early History of the Bagby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bagby research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1695, 1792 and 1881 are included under the topic Early Bagby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bagby Spelling Variations

Bagby has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Bagby have been found, including Bigsby, Bixby, Bigby, Bigbury, Bigsbury and many more.

Early Notables of the Bagby family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Jeremiah Bigsby (1792-1881), English geologist and physician, eponym of the Bigsby Medal; and Sir Thomas Bigsby.Angel Bix (d. 1695), was a Franciscan friar, who "after filling the office...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bagby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bagby Ranking

In the United States, the name Bagby is the 5,561st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]


United States Bagby migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bagbys to arrive on North American shores:

Bagby Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Bagby, who arrived in America in 1628 [4]
  • John Bagby, aged 17, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" [4]
  • Joan Bagby, who landed in Virginia in 1636 [4]
Bagby Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Bagby, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 [4]
Bagby Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • A.M. Bagby, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Bagby Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Katherine M Bagby, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1909
  • John H. C. Bagby, aged 43, who landed in America, in 1910
  • Oliver Bagby, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
  • Albert M. Bagby, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1914
  • Anna Bagby, aged 54, who immigrated to America, in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bagby (post 1700) +

  • James Charles Jacob Bagby Sr. (1889-1954), American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball
  • Larry Bagby (b. 1974), American actor and a musician
  • George William Bagby (1828-1883), American humorist
  • John Courts Bagby (1819-1896), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Illinois 10th District, 1875-77
  • Jacob W. Bagby, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Benton County, 1920
  • George W. Bagby, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wyoming, 1996 (alternate), 2000, 2004; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Wyoming, 2000; Member of Democratic National Committee from Wyoming, 2004
  • E. W. Bagby, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1880
  • Deidre Macapinlac Bagby, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996
  • David Bagby Jr. (1886-1924), American Democratic Party politician, Howard County Prosecuting Attorney, 1913-16; Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Howard County, 1921-22; Member of Missouri State Senate 14th District, 1923-24; Died in office 1924
  • B. D. Bagby, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1888
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Walter F. Bagby, American Shipfitter Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking [5]


The Bagby 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: Ad astra
Motto Translation: To the stars.


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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