The vast movement of people that followed the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066 brought the Picco family name to the British Isles. Picco comes from the Old English given name
Picot or
Pigot. The surname Picco was originally derived from the Old English word
pic, meaning
a hill with a sharp point at its top, and would originally have indicated that its bearer lived near such a landmark.
Early Origins of the Picco family
The surname Picco was first found in
Cheshire and
Cambridgeshire where Picot of Cambridge (c.1022–1090), born in Saye,
Normandy, was a Norman landowner and rose to become Sheriff of
Cambridgeshire (c. 1071-1090.) His son Robert, became implicated in a conspiracy against King Henry I, fled the country and the family estates were forfeit. Another reference claims "the family originally came from Cheshire; William Pigott of Butley in the parish of Prestbury in that county, who died in 1376, was grandfather of Richard Pigott of Butley who married the heiress of Peshall."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Early History of the Picco family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Picco research.
Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1333, 1645, 1697, 1720, 1713, 1734, 1630, 1657, 1686, 1719, 1777, 1720, 1796, 1640 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Picco History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Picco Spelling Variations
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 Pigott, Piggot, Piggett, Piggott, Piggot, Pigot, Picot and many more.
Early Notables of the Picco family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Pigot (Pigott, Piggott) (1657-1686), an English cleric, academic and Fellow of the Royal Society; George Pigot, 1st
Baron Pigot (1719-1777), former...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Picco Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Picco family to Ireland
Some of the Picco family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Picco family to the New World and Oceana
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 Picco or a variant listed above: William Piggett who settled in Virginia in 1654; John Piggot settled in Virginia in 1654; Alexander Piggot settled in Barbados in 1745; William and Walter Piggott settled in Virginia in 1635.
The Picco 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: Tout foys prest
Motto Translation: Always ready.