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

Higson, 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 Higson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Higson in America

Higson is the 77788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Higson surname appeared 246 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Higson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Higson 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 Higson

The surname Higson originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Hicka" or "Hicke," which was a diminutive form of the name "Richard." The suffix "-son" was commonly added to denote "son of," indicating that the name referred to the son of someone named Hicka or Hicke.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Higson, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. These rolls were financial records kept by the English Crown, which documented payments made to the Exchequer. The presence of the name in these records suggests that the Higson family had established themselves in Yorkshire by the 13th century.

The Higson surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference provides evidence of the name's longevity and its connection to the northern counties of England.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Higgyson, Higginson, and Hickson, reflecting the fluidity of spelling practices during that period. One notable bearer of the name was John Higson (c. 1530-1604), a renowned English playwright and satirist who wrote works critical of the Catholic Church during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent individual with the Higson surname was Sir George Higson (1718-1801), a British military officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1768 to 1780. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel in the British Army.

In the 19th century, the Higson name was associated with industrialists and entrepreneurs, particularly in the textile industry. James Higson (1832-1898) was a notable cotton manufacturer and philanthropist in Manchester, while John Higson (1810-1885) was a prominent English banker and railway entrepreneur.

Other notable individuals with the Higson surname include Cathy Higson (born 1962), a British television presenter and journalist, and Michael Higson (born 1948), a British actor and writer best known for his roles in television series such as "Bread" and "Boys from the Blackstuff."

The Higson name has maintained a presence throughout England, particularly in the northern counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where it has been recorded since the medieval period. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English personal name "Hicka" or "Hicke," reflecting the rich history and linguistic influences that have shaped English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Higson

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

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

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

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