Surname Bigley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bigley: What does the surname Bigley mean?
The last name Bigley is an English name of French origin. It is derived from the Old French name Bigele, which references a place name, indicating the family originally lived in the area of Bignell in England.
The Bigleys were a prominent family in England, with some members even serving as Mayor of London and Kent. It is believed that the Bigleys had a close relation to the ancient nobility of England before their arrival in the country.
Bigley is thought to be a combination of two words Big and ley, which taken together mean “enclosed land.” This gives the suggestion that the family maintained their own estate and may have been wealthy landowners at one point in history.
The Bigley family is also known for their strong philanthropic endeavours. Sir Arthur Bigley, a successful entrepreneur, was a well-known benefactor to many causes, such as providing housing to the homeless in the 1920s.
Due to their noble background and various successes throughout history, the Bigleys are known for their tenacity and resilience. Each generation of Bigleys have worked hard to build upon the legacy of their ancestors and are seen as an example of strength and ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisBigley: Where does the name Bigley come from?
The last name Bigley is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the United States, it was first recorded in Ohio in 1840. Since then, the surname has spread throughout the United States with the highest concentration being located in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. In Pennsylvania, the name is in the top 500 most popular surnames and makes up around 0.015% of the population of the state. In New York, the name is in the top 1,000 most popular surnames and makes up around 0.006% of the population of the state. In Ohio, the name is in the top 800 most popular surnames and makes up around 0.009% of the population of the state.
In Canada, the surname Bigley is most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. In Ontario, it is in the 800 most popular surnames and makes up around 0.006% of the population of the province. In British Columbia, the surname is in the 400 most popular surnames and makes up around 0.011% of the population of the province.
Overall, the last name Bigley is found throughout North America, but is most commonly located in the United States and Canada. It is a relatively uncommon name, but not so rare that it is hard to find.
Variations of the surname Bigley
The Bigley surname is derived from the Old English word ‘belge,’ which means bundle or bundle of straw. It is believed to have been an occupational name for someone who worked with straw, such as a thatcher. Variants and spellings of Bigley include Bliche, Biggley, and Bellevie. Bigley can also be found in some early American records as Bigelow or Bigalow.
Common surnames with a similar origin to Bigley include Blandish, Bliche, Blandiston, Blenshya, Blinkhorn, Blunkett, Bleay, Bleacomb, Bigsbee, Bigsby, Biggar, Bissele, and Bilgore. Many of these surnames were common in the Middle Ages and can be found in records from 12th or 13th century England.
Bigley is also related to other surnames such as Biggs, Bigly, Bignall, Beagley, Beegle, and Beasley. These surnames may have been derived from the Old English ‘beag,’ meaning small. Another related surname is Belge, which is derived from the Old French word ‘belge’ meaning ‘straw.’ It is an occupational name as well and could refer to someone who worked with straw.
In some cases, Bigley is a variant of the surname Bilge, which is derived from the Old Norse word ‘bilgja,’ meaning a bag or sack. This name was likely given to someone who carried or sold sacks.
Bigley is a common surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames related to its origin. In some cases, the original meaning may have been completely different, but the same surname evolved through over time or was adopted by different people.
Famous people with the name Bigley
- David Bigley: former British Army Officer and politician.
- William Bigley: British Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament.
- Georgette Bigley: French-American fashion designer.
- Tom Bigley: American professional baseball pitcher.
- John Bigley: Irish professional soccer player.
- Celeste Bigley: Australian lifestyle and fashion influencer.
- Amanda Bigley: Canadian voice actress.
- Quinn Bigley: American actress.
- Rob Bigley: American basketball coach.
- Robert Bigley: American author.