Surname Bigland - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bigland: What does the surname Bigland mean?
The last name Bigland is thought to be of English origin. It is believed to originate from a place name, derived from the Old English words "by" (village, farmstead) and "land" (land). This could have referred to a person who came from the estate of Bigland, or someone who lived in a farmstead by a small, marshy land mass.
People with the last name Bigland are thought to have first appeared in the late 14th century and early 15th century. Over time, the name spread throughout England during this period as a result of regular migration. In more recent times, the name has spread even further around the world, likely through emigration.
Today, Bigland is an uncommon last name, still found mostly in the UK and its former colonies. Those with the Bigland surname might take pride in their English heritage, and perhaps be more curious about the region where their ancestral home may have once been located.
Order DNA origin analysisBigland: Where does the name Bigland come from?
The last name Bigland is primarily found in the United Kingdom and countries of the British Isles today. It is most commonly found in England, with an estimated 5,000 individuals identified as having this last name. It appears to originate from the Yorkshire region of England, and most of the families with this last name can trace their lineage to this specific area.
In Scotland, there is an estimated 500 individuals with the last name Bigland, with the majority found in the Orkney region and around the Highlands. In Northern Ireland, where many British families have emigrated due to political unrest, there are also an estimated 500 individuals carrying this last name.
The Bigland family can also be found in Jamaica, where they immigrated in the 1800s during the time of the British empire, and, while a relatively small population, it appears that many have been able to trace their ancestry to one family that settled in the island in the 19th century.
Overall, the last name Bigland is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and countries of the British Isles. It is also present in other countries throughout the world, including Jamaica, where it has been recorded as far back as the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Bigland
The surname Bigland is an Anglo-Saxon name that has evolved over time. Generally, the most common variant of Bigland is Bygland, including alternate spellings Byggeland, Byglan, and Biglan. Bigland can also be spelled Biggland, and variant spellings include Bigglan, Byglin, Byglyn, Biglyn, and Biglen.
The Byggeland surname often originates from particular families in England and Scotland. They have a long lineage in Britain, with the Bygland family being strongly linked to London. One of the earliest records of Bigland (Byggeland) is as far back as 1248 during an election in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, in Wales.
More recently, Bigland can be found as a variant of Beglan, Beaglan, Begglan, Beaglen, and Beglen. Beaglen and Begglan are the most common variant spellings, but many variations are still in use today.
Bigland is also a variant of Byland, which is an English surname. This is thought to originate from a place known as Byland Abbey, which was founded by Cistercian Monks in Yorkshire, England in 1177. Alternate spellings of this surname include Beiland, Beylant, Beylend, Beetland, Bieland, Beyelant, Beglonde, and Begylan.
Bigland has been an enduring surname, remaining strong in Britain and across many parts of the world since the 12th century. It has been adapted to fit with the culture and language of those parts of the world over time. No matter how it has been spelt, it is still recognisable as a proud and ancient British lineage.
Famous people with the name Bigland
- Mary Bigland (1784–1813), British sculptor and poet.
- Carl Bigland (1794–1868), English businessman and banker.
- John Bigland (1751–1832), English cartographer and naturalist.
- Thomas Bigland (1854–1922), English journalist and novelist.
- Warren Bigland (1877–1942), English politician.
- Raymond Bigland (1916–1982), English Royal Navy officer and expert in antisubmarine warfare.
- Mark Bigland-Pritchard (born 1975), British actor, comedian, writer, and scriptwriter.
- Henry Bigland (1740–1820), English land developer and author.
- Richard Bigland (born 1941), British civil servant.
- Jake Bigland (fl. 1858–1899), English pugilist.