Bygraves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bygraves

What does the name Bygraves mean?

The ancestry of the name Bygraves dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in Hertfordshire, where they held lands and a family seat at Bygrave. Originally the surname was derived from the Old English word biggrafau which meant dweller by the ditch. This name is a toponymic, surname, which is derived from nearby geographical features.

Early Origins of the Bygraves family

The surname Bygraves was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Bygrave in that shire. The name in Saxon was "Biggrafan" having nothing to do with the grave or being by a grave. Before the Norman Conquest Leommaer Bygrave held a family seat at Bygrave in the year 1015, and most likely gave his name to the village of that name. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book the Bygraves held their land which consisted of a village and a mill from the Bishop of Chester.

Early History of the Bygraves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bygraves research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1586, 1610, 1643 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Bygraves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bygraves Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Bygraves have been found, including Bygrove, Bygroves, Bygrave, Bygraves, Bigrove, Bigroves, Bigrave, Bigraves, Bargrave and many more.

Early Notables of the Bygraves family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bygraves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bygraves family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Bygraves, or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Bygrave who landed in Virginia in 1624.

Contemporary Notables of the name Bygraves (post 1700) +

Walter William "Max" Bygraves OBE (1922-2012), English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer