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Bigham Family History

Bigham Surname Meaning

Scottish (Wigtownshire) and Irish: habitational name from either Bigholm in Beith parish (Ayrshire) or Bigholms in Langholm parish (Dumfriesshire). The second element of the placename is from Older Scots holm (Old Norse holmr) ‘islet’ ‘raised land in a marsh’ ‘a stretch of low-lying land beside a river; a meadow’.

The first element may be an unattested Older Scots bigge, a shortened form of bigging ‘building’. The name was taken to Ulster in the 17th and 18th centuries where it was used interchangeably with Bingham.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Bigham family from?

You can see how Bigham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bigham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bigham families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 49 Bigham families living in Monmouthshire. This was about 32% of all the recorded Bigham's in United Kingdom. Monmouthshire had the highest population of Bigham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bigham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bigham ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bigham. 34% of Bigham men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Bigham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bigham were Aero Engine Fitter and None.

View Census Data for Bigham | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    34%
  • Coal Hewer H Worker
    23%
  • Police Constable
    23%
  • Aero Engine Fitter
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Private Means
    7%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • None
    5%

What Bigham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Bigham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bigham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bigham

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Bigham. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bigham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Bigham. For the veterans among your Bigham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bigham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bigham family history

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What is the average Bigham lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Bigham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bigham in 1942 was 45, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bigham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bigham ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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