Buggay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Buggay is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Buggay family lived in Dorset. The family's name, however, is reference to Buge, Normandy, their place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Alternatively the name could have been derived from the Saxon names Bucge and Bogue. 2 Another source continues this postulation, noting the "Anglo - Saxon landholders named Buga and Bugga, and that these names, together with Bucge, are also ancient German names. In fact, at the present day we find Bugge as a surname both in Germany and Scandinavia. " 3

Early Origins of the Buggay family

The surname Buggay was first found in Dorset, where "the family of Bugg, of the vicinity of Sherborne, have probably an ancestor in John Bugge, who owned land in West Tyneham some time in the 16th century. Both Bugg and Bugge were not uncommon names in Oxfordshire in the reign of Edward I. "3

This same source notes that "we learn from Deering's "Nottingham," that in the reign of Mary I., the Bugges, as Merchants of the Staple, were persons of considerable note in the town of Nottingham. " 3

But the family was far more widespread and prevalent in the early years, than the aforementioned localization. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Bate Bugge, Yorkshire; William Bugge, Oxfordshire; and Osberne Bugge, Oxfordshire. The early Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus Bugge; Robertus Bugg; and Johannes Bugg, 1379 as all holding lands there at that time. 4

Early History of the Buggay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buggay research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1548, 1592, 1640, 1724 and 1751 are included under the topic Early Buggay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buggay Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Bugge, Bug, Buge, Bugg, Buggs, Buggy, Buggie and others.

Early Notables of the Buggay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Francis Bugg (1640-1724?), English writer against Quakerism, of whose life no authentic account remains, is only known from his own writings or those of his opponents...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Buggay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Buggay family to Ireland

Some of the Buggay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Buggay family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Buggay or a variant listed above: Joan Bugg who settled in Virginia in 1654; Charles Buggs with his wife and three children settled in New England in 1836; Joseph Bugg settled in Barbados in 1654.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)