The ancient and distinguished surname Wiggans indicates "son of Wigand," a
personal name derived from the
Breton name "Wiucon," meaning "high and noble."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) This name was introduced into
England at the time of the
Norman Conquest of 1066.Singlular forms of the name were still found in
Normandy as late as 1198: Radulphus Wigan; and Richard Wiguen.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) Early Origins of the Wiggans family
The surname Wiggans was first found in the county of
Cambridgeshire, where one named Wighen
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) was listed in the
Domesday Book in 1086. Another early bearer of the name was Radulfus
filius Wigein, who was living in
Leicestershire in 1163.
[4]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) Hereditary surnames were first used in
England by the higher classes as a mark of distinction, but were later adopted by poorer people as well. Family names were standard in
England by the 14th century, by which time the Wiggans family had already grown into several notable and distinguished houses, having been granted lands by Duke William of
Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Wiggans family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wiggans research.
Another 236 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1279, 1379, 1592, 1667, 1633, 1637, 1696 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Wiggans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wiggans Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Wiggin, Wiggins, Wigan, Wigans, Wiegand, Wigand, Wigens and many more.
Early Notables of the Wiggans family (pre 1700)
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wiggans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Wiggans family to Ireland
Some of the Wiggans family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 150 words (11 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 Wiggans family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Wiggans Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Charles A Wiggans, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - John F Wiggans, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)