NameCensus.

UK surname

Biggins

Derived from the Old Norse bygg and vin, meaning "barley" and "meadow," referring to a person who lived near a barley field.

In the 1881 census there were 732 people recorded with the Biggins surname, ranking it #4,995 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,159, ranked #5,092, down from #4,995 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Ryton and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Copeland and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Biggins is 1,170 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.3%.

1881 census count

732

Ranked #4,995

Modern count

1,159

2016, ranked #5,092

Peak year

2014

1,170 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Biggins had 732 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,995 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016, ranked #5,092.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 870 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Biggins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Biggins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Biggins 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 443 #5,557
1861 historical 508 #5,149
1881 historical 732 #4,995
1891 historical 785 #5,115
1901 historical 870 #5,262
1911 historical 837 #5,283
1997 modern 1,126 #4,973
1998 modern 1,130 #5,134
1999 modern 1,169 #5,039
2000 modern 1,135 #5,135
2001 modern 1,122 #5,080
2002 modern 1,147 #5,099
2003 modern 1,092 #5,210
2004 modern 1,074 #5,294
2005 modern 1,076 #5,232
2006 modern 1,089 #5,180
2007 modern 1,083 #5,244
2008 modern 1,102 #5,205
2009 modern 1,126 #5,216
2010 modern 1,166 #5,168
2011 modern 1,156 #5,161
2012 modern 1,115 #5,228
2013 modern 1,138 #5,221
2014 modern 1,170 #5,130
2015 modern 1,155 #5,133
2016 modern 1,159 #5,092

Geography

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Where Biggins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Ryton, Dalton-in-Furness, Glasgow and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Copeland, Scarborough, Carntyne West and Haghill and Ryedale. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Ryton Durham
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City
2 Copeland 007 Copeland
3 Scarborough 014 Scarborough
4 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City
5 Ryedale 008 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Biggins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Biggins

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Biggins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Biggins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Biggins 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

Biggins 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

Biggins falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Biggins 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 Biggins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Biggins

The surname Biggins is of English origin, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bygging," which means a building or a dwelling place. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived near a prominent building or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Biggins can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1275, where it appears as "de Bigginge." This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time and its connection to a specific location or place name.

During the Middle Ages, the name Biggins was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Warwickshire. Records from this period indicate that the name was often associated with landowners or individuals of some social standing within their local communities.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Biggins was Sir Ralph Biggins (c. 1515-1585), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Warwickshire. He played a role in the English Reformation and was known for his staunch Protestantism.

Another prominent individual was John Biggins (1589-1660), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University. He was a respected scholar and author of several works on biblical studies.

The Biggins surname also has connections to the literary world. Walter Biggins (1686-1737) was an English poet and playwright who wrote several comedies and satires that were performed in London theaters during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Joseph Biggins (1828-1891) was a renowned English architect known for his work on churches and other public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. He designed several notable structures, including the Church of St. Mary in Leamington Spa.

Another notable figure was Sarah Biggins (1831-1909), a philanthropist and social reformer from Manchester. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of working-class families and establishing educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

While the surname Biggins may not be as widely recognized as some other English surnames, its history spans several centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, academics, artists, and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Biggins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Biggins 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. Yorkshire leads with 232 Biggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 232 3.32x
Lancashire 121 1.45x
Durham 65 3.10x
Middlesex 42 0.60x
Lanarkshire 35 1.54x
Cumberland 32 5.28x
Cheshire 26 1.67x
Surrey 20 0.58x
Renfrewshire 15 2.75x
Derbyshire 14 1.27x
Staffordshire 14 0.59x
Somerset 12 1.06x
Midlothian 11 1.17x
Ayrshire 10 1.90x
Glamorgan 6 0.49x
Kent 6 0.25x
Leicestershire 6 0.77x
Suffolk 6 0.70x
Angus 5 0.77x
Northumberland 5 0.48x
Berkshire 4 0.76x
Gloucestershire 4 0.29x
Montgomeryshire 4 2.48x
Norfolk 4 0.37x
Northamptonshire 4 0.60x
Flintshire 3 1.58x
Monmouthshire 3 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.32x
Devon 2 0.14x
Radnorshire 2 3.52x
Warwickshire 2 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.53x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 46 Biggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.70x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 46 20.70x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 19.72x
Dalton In Furness 25 77.50x
Barony 23 3.99x
Burnley 17 24.15x
Holy Trinity 16 9.53x
Winlaton 14 69.65x
Ogley Hay 12 243.41x
Bury 11 11.52x
Muston 11 1157.89x
Stockton On Tees 11 10.89x
Birtley 9 105.26x
Chester St Oswald 9 31.97x
Dalkeith 9 48.36x
Eastwood 9 26.78x
Nether Hallam 9 9.53x
St Marylebone London 9 2.39x
Battersea 8 3.09x
Great Ayton 8 187.35x
Guisbrough 8 52.46x
Mexborough 8 57.76x
Crompton 7 29.41x
Drigg Carleton 7 514.71x
Gateshead 7 4.46x
Lower Upper Holker 7 614.04x
Newington 7 2.69x
Ulverston 7 28.76x
Abbey 6 7.20x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 9.54x
Beckermet St John 6 397.35x
Bilsdale Midcable 6 368.10x
Crossgate 6 65.50x
Holbeck 6 12.98x
Ipswich St Helen 6 59.00x
Larktn Duckngtn Ovrtn 6 500.00x
Liverpool 6 1.18x
Bramley In Bramley 5 18.71x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.65x
Chester St John Baptist 5 17.90x
Durham St Nicholas 5 97.09x
Glasgow 5 1.24x
Great Bolton 5 4.52x
Hunslet 5 4.59x
Leeds 5 1.27x
Liff Benvie 5 5.05x
Newchurch 5 7.31x
Pennington In Ulverston 5 120.19x
Preston Quarter 5 29.43x
Southcoates 5 12.91x
Auckinleck 4 24.51x
Bedminster 4 3.75x
Blackrod 4 38.50x
Clifford Cum Boston 4 63.69x
Derby St Werburgh 4 6.28x
Framwellgate 4 32.23x
Gomersal 4 12.28x
Govan 4 0.71x
Heigham 4 6.88x
Kensington London 4 1.02x
Kirkleatham 4 42.46x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.10x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.67x
Normanby In 4 21.44x
Norton 4 44.00x
Ormesby 4 21.32x
Pool 4 32.87x
Shadforth 4 98.52x
St Pancras London 4 0.71x
Wilby 4 404.04x
Woolwich 4 4.51x
Beverley St Martin 3 25.75x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.31x
Chelsea London 3 1.41x
Galston 3 20.82x
Great Driffield 3 20.95x
Middleton On Wolds 3 196.08x
Sculcoates 3 2.71x
Sowerby In Thirsk 3 71.43x
St Woollos 3 5.28x
Wraxall 3 138.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Elizabeth 24
Ann 22
Sarah 21
Jane 18
Alice 11
Annie 11
Ellen 11
Emma 9
Hannah 8
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Margaret 6
Clara 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Eleanor 4
Harriet 4
Agnes 3
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Dinah 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Mable 2
Minnie 2
Agness 1
Amy 1
Betty 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Elizh. 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Han. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
Thomas 36
William 29
James 21
George 16
Charles 15
Robert 13
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Arthur 7
Samuel 7
Frank 5
Isaac 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Andrew 3
Frederick 3
Patrick 3
Philip 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Francis 2
Geo.Hy. 2
Harry 2
Henery 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Luke 2
Rodger 2
Roger 2
Saint 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Alexander 1
Authur 1
Dennis 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Mead 1
Owen 1
Patricia 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Biggins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Biggins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 732 people were recorded with the Biggins surname. That placed it at #4,995 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Biggins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016. That gives Biggins a modern rank of #5,092.

What does the Biggins surname mean?

Derived from the Old Norse bygg and vin, meaning "barley" and "meadow," referring to a person who lived near a barley field.

What does the Biggins map show?

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