Surname Bigge - Meaning and Origin
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Bigge: What does the surname Bigge mean?
The surname Bigge is of English origin and is believed to have first emerged during the times of Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is derived from the Old English term "bigga," which means "strong." Therefore, the Bigge surname would imply strength or power. This seems to coincide with the common practice in olden days where surnames often represented physical attributes, occupations or geographies. In some cases, it was also based on nicknames that highlighted physical characteristics or peculiar traits. However, it must be noted that the interpretations of surnames are complex and may have various other meanings or origins in different cultures and languages. As with many surnames, over time and through migrations and societal changes, the exact origins and meanings can become somewhat blurred or change. Also, the surname Bigge has several variations in spelling like Biggs, Bigg, Big, Begge, etc. As of now, it is spread across various countries across the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBigge: Where does the name Bigge come from?
The surname Bigge has English origin, most likely derived from an Old English pre 7th century nickname 'the bigge' and given to a large or stout person, illustrating the custom of creating a surname from a personal characteristic. The name may also be connected with the Middle High German word "bigge," which means barrel and may have identified a maker or seller of such storage containers. Early records are found in the Doomsday Book of 1086 in Norfolk, England, where individuals have the name in the variant forms of Biga and Byge.
The surname spread widely across England, showing up prominently in Kent and Surrey counties. In the 1880s, the Bigge family in England was noted for its contributions to religious, judicial, and political fields. Some family members emigrated to Australia and earned prominence there, notably Sir Thomas Bigge who was appointed Chief Justice of New South Wales in the 1820s. Today, Bigge still appears in England, Australia, the United States, and a few others locations around the world, though it is not a particularly common surname.
Variations of the surname Bigge
The surname Bigge has various spelling variations and variants that have evolved over time. Some of these variants include Biggs, Bigge, Bigga, Bigg, Byg, Bygg, Bygge, Byggs, Big, and Bigges. Moreover, due to regional dialects and pronunciation, the surname also mutated into forms like Bigger, Biggur, and Biggar.
One must also consider that some surnames may have adopted an “s” or “es” at the end, transforming Bigge into Bigges or Bigges' due to possessive case English grammar rules of the past.
Surname variants can also be found due to the phonetic transcriptions during immigration periods, such as Beg, Begh, Begg, Beggs or Bug, which may belong to Bigge's linguistic tree.
Other variations might include double consonants such as Bigger or Biggar.
Lastly, "Bigge" might be altered due to localization or translation into different languages so the name might have a completely different form in non-English speaking countries. However, without traceable lineage or genealogy records, it may be challenging to definitively link these as variants or spellings of the same origin as the surname Bigge.
Famous people with the name Bigge
- Judge John Bigge (The Hon. John Thomas Bigge) was an English judge and royal commissioner.
- Sir William Bigge, 1st Baronet was a British Conservative Party politician.
- Archibald Bigge was an administrator in British India and the older brother of Lord Stamfordham, Private Secretary to King Edward VII and King George V.
- Francis John Bigge was a prominent Anglican churchman in the 19th century.
- Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, was the Private Secretary to both Queen Victoria and King George V.
- Christopher Bigge (Christopher Neville Lindo Bigge) was a British alpine skier who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.
- Bigge de Vries, a Dutch artist known for his public art installations.
- Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher George Latore Wallace, was often also nicknamed Biggie or Biggie Smalls, although not his legal surname, the rapper was one of the most significant figures in rap history.