NameCensus.

UK surname

Biggar

A geographical surname derived from a town or village name.

In the 1881 census there were 415 people recorded with the Biggar surname, ranking it #7,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 526, ranked #9,642, down from #7,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Hawick and Wilton and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stonehouse, Glenkens and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biggar is 561 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

415

Ranked #7,763

Modern count

526

2016, ranked #9,642

Peak year

2009

561 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Biggar had 415 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016, ranked #9,642.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 512 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Biggar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Biggar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biggar 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 358 #6,604
1861 historical 343 #7,444
1881 historical 415 #7,763
1891 historical 512 #7,283
1901 historical 499 #8,065
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 509 #9,181
1998 modern 526 #9,238
1999 modern 530 #9,231
2000 modern 546 #9,001
2001 modern 518 #9,218
2002 modern 521 #9,363
2003 modern 518 #9,257
2004 modern 534 #9,057
2005 modern 532 #9,019
2006 modern 528 #9,097
2007 modern 548 #8,927
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 561 #9,028
2010 modern 550 #9,368
2011 modern 541 #9,400
2012 modern 523 #9,555
2013 modern 528 #9,633
2014 modern 530 #9,669
2015 modern 528 #9,633
2016 modern 526 #9,642

Geography

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Where Biggars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dumfries. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stonehouse, Glenkens, Bolton, Cheshire East and Earlston and Hurlford Rural. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dumfries Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stonehouse South Lanarkshire
2 Glenkens Dumfries and Galloway
3 Bolton 032 Bolton
4 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
5 Earlston and Hurlford Rural East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biggar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biggar

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Biggar, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Biggar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Biggar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Biggar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Biggar is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Biggar falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Biggar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Biggar

The surname Biggar originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish town of Biggar, located in the central region of South Lanarkshire. The town's name itself is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "bìogarra," meaning "lively" or "vigorous."

The name Biggar first appeared in historical records around 1159, when it was mentioned in the Charters of Kelso Abbey. This ancient abbey was located in the Scottish Borders region and played a significant role in preserving historical documents from that era.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Biggar was Sir John Biggar, who was a prominent Scottish knight and landowner in the 14th century. He was mentioned in several charters and legal documents from the reign of King Robert II of Scotland (1316-1390).

Another notable figure with the Biggar surname was Sir Walter Biggar, who lived during the 15th century. He was a respected Scottish diplomat and ambassador, serving under King James III of Scotland (1451-1488). Sir Walter Biggar was involved in negotiations with England and played a crucial role in maintaining diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In the 16th century, a man named John Biggar was born in Biggar, Scotland, around 1520. He was a successful merchant and trader, known for his extensive business ventures throughout Europe. John Biggar's name was recorded in various trade records and business documents from that period.

The surname Biggar also has connections to the Scottish town of Biggar, which was an important market town and trading center during the Middle Ages. The town's name is derived from the Gaelic term "bìogarra," meaning "lively" or "vigorous," likely referring to the town's bustling market and commercial activities.

Another notable figure with the Biggar surname was Sir James Biggar, who lived during the 17th century. He was a Scottish military officer and served in the army of King Charles II of England (1630-1685). Sir James Biggar played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which were a series of conflicts that took place in the British Isles between 1639 and 1651.

Overall, the surname Biggar has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with various historical figures and records dating back several centuries. The name's origins are closely tied to the town of Biggar, which was an important center of trade and commerce during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Biggar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Biggar 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. Lanarkshire leads with 105 Biggars recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.04x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 105 8.04x
Roxburghshire 38 51.95x
Midlothian 34 6.28x
Selkirkshire 33 90.31x
Cumberland 28 8.05x
Lancashire 25 0.52x
Ayrshire 24 7.94x
Renfrewshire 24 7.67x
Middlesex 21 0.52x
Kirkcudbrightshire 19 32.50x
Northumberland 11 1.83x
Berwickshire 9 18.40x
Cheshire 9 1.01x
Dumfriesshire 9 10.09x
Essex 5 0.63x
Kent 4 0.29x
Angus 3 0.80x
Stirlingshire 3 2.01x
Sussex 3 0.44x
Bedfordshire 1 0.48x
Clackmannanshire 1 3.00x
Durham 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Surrey 1 0.05x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 34 Biggars recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

Place Total Index
Barony 34 10.29x
Govan 22 6.81x
Glasgow 21 9.05x
Selkirk 21 204.08x
Hawick 19 116.07x
West Calder 14 131.33x
Urr 12 157.89x
New Monkland 10 25.90x
Kilmarnock 9 25.02x
Caldewgate 8 41.99x
Edinburgh St Georges 8 71.24x
Great Salkeld 8 1159.42x
Stockport 8 17.44x
Stonehouse 8 180.59x
Bradford 7 31.21x
Doxford 7 5000.00x
Dumfries 7 79.55x
Eastwood 7 36.33x
Paisley High Church 7 28.09x
Stevenston 7 88.83x
Everton 6 3.93x
Galashiels 6 44.41x
Islington London 6 1.53x
St Cuthbert W O 6 35.40x
Ancrum 5 263.16x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.30x
Lauder 5 185.19x
Mearns 5 91.24x
Roxburgh 5 357.14x
West Ham 5 2.84x
Carnwath 4 49.51x
Dalkeith 4 37.49x
Gordon 4 344.83x
Manchester 4 1.86x
Rickergate 4 54.35x
Alva 3 42.25x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.15x
Crailing 3 340.91x
Dundonald 3 26.93x
Ettrick 3 545.45x
Heaton Norris 3 11.00x
Kelso 3 41.15x
Kilmaurs 3 58.37x
Lanark 3 28.54x
Stoke Newington London 3 9.54x
Abbey 2 4.19x
Ashford 2 14.90x
Ayr 2 14.03x
Balmaclellan 2 153.85x
Cocking 2 250.00x
Hampstead London 2 3.18x
Kensington London 2 0.89x
Kirkcudbright 2 41.32x
Liverpool 2 0.69x
Maryhill 2 7.82x
Melrose 2 21.74x
Montrose 2 8.82x
South Blyth Newsham 2 169.49x
Toxteth Park 2 1.23x
Troqueer 2 26.08x
Westgate 2 5.37x
Wilton 2 24.91x
Avondale 1 13.09x
Cathcart 1 5.91x
Catherington 1 54.64x
Closeburn 1 48.08x
Dundee 1 0.72x
Erskine 1 44.05x
Halifax 1 1.70x
Holywood 1 67.11x
Kirkgunzeon 1 109.89x
Lambeth 1 0.28x
Melrose 1 15.82x
Roberton 1 128.21x
Salford 1 0.71x
Sebergham 1 129.87x
St Cuthbert Within 1 24.81x
St Marylebone London 1 0.46x
St Pancras London 1 0.31x
Twickenham 1 5.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Jane 4
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Christina 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Horcua 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Marrian 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Biggar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Biggar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 415 people were recorded with the Biggar surname. That placed it at #7,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Biggar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016. That gives Biggar a modern rank of #9,642.

What does the Biggar surname mean?

A geographical surname derived from a town or village name.

What does the Biggar map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Biggar 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.