NameCensus.

UK surname

Biggam

In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Biggam surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, down from #14,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mochrum, Edinburgh and Stranraer. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Toryglen and Oatlands and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biggam is 182 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.0%.

1881 census count

171

Ranked #14,212

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

1901

182 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Biggam had 171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Biggam surname distribution map

The map shows where the Biggam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Biggam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biggam over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 144 #13,277
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 171 #14,212
1891 historical 180 #16,143
1901 historical 182 #16,057
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Biggams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mochrum, Edinburgh, Stranraer, Portpatrick and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Toryglen and Oatlands, Cherwell and Stranraer East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Mochrum Wigtown
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Stranraer Wigtown
4 Portpatrick Wigtown
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Cherwell 015 Cherwell
4 Cherwell 014 Cherwell
5 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biggam

These lists show first names that appear often with the Biggam surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biggam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Biggam, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Biggam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Biggam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Biggam is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Biggam is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Biggam falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Biggam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Biggam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Biggam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Biggam surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wigtownshire leads with 80 Biggams recorded in 1881 and an index of 361.17x.

County Total Index
Wigtownshire 80 361.17x
Cumberland 22 15.32x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 62.14x
Lancashire 11 0.56x
Lanarkshire 10 1.85x
Midlothian 9 4.03x
Renfrewshire 6 4.64x
Ayrshire 5 4.01x
Northumberland 3 1.21x
Durham 2 0.40x
Gloucestershire 2 0.61x
Buteshire 1 9.89x
Cheshire 1 0.27x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.71x
Dunbartonshire 1 2.23x
Perthshire 1 1.34x
Royal Navy 1 5.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leswalt in Wigtownshire leads with 37 Biggams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2434.21x.

Place Total Index
Leswalt 37 2434.21x
Portpatrick 17 2297.30x
Corstorphine 9 731.71x
Kirkmabreck 9 849.06x
Glasgow 7 7.31x
Kirkmaiden 7 500.00x
Stranraer 7 344.83x
Whitehaven 7 91.50x
Girthon 6 740.74x
Harrington 6 346.82x
Blackley 5 144.09x
Holme St Cuthbert 5 1162.79x
Kirkdale 5 15.02x
Sorbie 5 515.46x
Kilwinning 4 99.26x
Mochrum 4 303.03x
Workington 4 48.66x
Chirton 3 53.38x
East Greenock 3 24.57x
West Greenock 3 12.93x
Bishopwearmouth 2 4.70x
Cheltenham 2 7.92x
New Monkland 2 12.55x
Alyth 1 49.75x
Bonhill 1 13.91x
Bute North 1 147.06x
Claughton With Grange 1 59.52x
Dumfries 1 27.55x
Govan 1 0.75x
Kirkcolm 1 94.34x
Loudoun 1 33.33x
Old Luce 1 71.43x
Penninghame 1 44.25x
Salford 1 1.72x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Biggam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 3
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Easther 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Jessie 1
Maggie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Biggam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 5
James 3
William 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Biggam households.

FAQ

Biggam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Biggam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Biggam surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Biggam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Biggam a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Biggam map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Biggam bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.