Find out how popular the last name Biggerstaff is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Biggerstaff.

Biggerstaff, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Biggerstaff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biggerstaff in America

Biggerstaff is the 10560th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biggerstaff surname appeared 3,035 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Biggerstaff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Biggerstaff to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Biggerstaff

The surname Biggerstaff is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it was likely a locational name derived from a place or topographic feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Biggerstaf." This spelling suggests that the name may have been derived from the Old English words "bycgere" meaning "buyer" or "merchant," and "stæf" meaning "staff" or "walking stick." It could have referred to a merchant or trader who carried a distinctive staff or walking stick.

The name Biggerstaff also has connections to various place names in the region, such as Biggerstaffe Clough near Colne in Lancashire and Biggerstaff Farm near Burnley, both of which likely derived their names from the surname itself.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Bigerstaff residing in Yorkshire, indicating the surname's early establishment in the area. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332 mention a William del Biggerstafe, showcasing the surname's evolution over time.

Notable individuals bearing the Biggerstaff surname include:

1. Thomas Biggerstaff (c. 1561-1636), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Rector of Wolverhampton from 1596 until his death.

2. John Biggerstaff (c. 1623-1699), an English settler in North America, who was among the early Quaker colonists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

3. Elizabeth Biggerstaff (c. 1670-1732), an English Quaker minister and writer, known for her religious works and her advocacy for women's rights within the Quaker community.

4. William Biggerstaff (1833-1905), an English-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

5. Robert Biggerstaff (1868-1942), an American businessman and philanthropist, who co-founded the Biggerstaff-Crawford Manufacturing Company and was actively involved in various charitable organizations in his community.

These historical examples illustrate the longevity and widespread dissemination of the Biggerstaff surname, which has its origins firmly rooted in the northern regions of medieval England, where it emerged as a locational name or occupational descriptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biggerstaff

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Biggerstaff.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Biggerstaff was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Biggerstaff has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Biggerstaff was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Biggerstaff, please contact us.

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