Buggy is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Buggy 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]
The surname Buggy 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buggy research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1548, 1592, 1751, 1640 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Buggy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Bugge, Bug, Buge, Bugg, Buggs, Buggy, Buggie and others.
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 Buggy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Buggy 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.
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Buggy or a variant listed above:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: