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

Riggens, 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 Riggens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riggens in America

Riggens is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riggens surname appeared 135 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 Riggens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riggens 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 Riggens

The surname Riggens originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rigg," which referred to a ridge or hill, often used as a place name element. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or on a ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a William Riggen is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Rygge.

The name has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Rigge, Rigg, Rugge, and Rygge. These variations likely resulted from differences in local dialects and accents, as well as the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Riggens is also believed to have been influenced by the French word "rige," meaning a furrow or trench, which may have contributed to its spelling and pronunciation in certain regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Riggens include:

1. Robert Riggens (c. 1520 - 1585), an English merchant and landowner from Ipswich, Suffolk.
2. Thomas Riggens (1587 - 1647), an English clergyman and author from Lincolnshire.
3. Elizabeth Riggens (1673 - 1728), a prominent Quaker preacher and writer from Yorkshire.
4. John Riggens (1718 - 1797), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.
5. William Riggens (1842 - 1903), an English architect known for designing several notable buildings in London.

While the name Riggens is primarily associated with England, it has also been found in other parts of the British Isles and has been carried to various parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riggens

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

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

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

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