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

Higginson, 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 Higginson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Higginson in America

Higginson is the 15402nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Higginson surname appeared 1,903 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 Higginson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Higginson 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 Higginson

The surname Higginson is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Higginson, located near Whalley in Lancashire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hycgan" meaning to think or desire, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Higginson can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1332, where it is listed as "Hicchenson". This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 14th century.

The Higginson family was well-known in Lancashire during the medieval period, and several members of the family are mentioned in historical records. One notable figure was Edward Higginson, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century and played a role in the English Reformation.

Another prominent individual with the Higginson surname was Francis Higginson, an English Puritan minister who was born in 1588. He was a leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and played a significant role in the early settlement of New England.

In the 17th century, the Higginson family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Shropshire and Berkshire. One notable member from this period was Nathaniel Higginson, a merchant and colonist who was born in 1652 and later settled in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Higginson name has also been associated with several notable writers and intellectuals throughout history. One such figure was Thomas Wentworth Higginson, an American author, abolitionist, and soldier who lived from 1823 to 1911. He was deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement and played a key role in the recruitment of African American soldiers during the American Civil War.

Another renowned individual with the Higginson surname was Mary Thacher Higginson, an American writer and activist born in 1844. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement and a vocal advocate for social reform and women's rights.

The Higginson name has also been carried by several individuals in the fields of education and academia. One notable example is Edward Higginson, an English mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1670 to 1735 and made significant contributions to the development of calculus.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Higginson

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

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 Higginson 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 Higginson 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 Higginson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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