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Bigland Family History

Bigland Surname Meaning

The place-name Bigland (Cartmel Lancs) is derived from Old Scandinavian elements. It combines bygg, meaning ‘barley’, with land, meaning ‘land’.

There is a possible variant of Biglands which may have resulted from the loss of the final -s.

Interestingly, both forms of the name are noted in various locations, including Crosthwaite and Holme Cultram in Cumbria.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Bigland family from?

You can see how Bigland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bigland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bigland families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 56 Bigland families living in Lancashire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Bigland's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Bigland families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bigland 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 Bigland ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Painter decorator and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bigland. 25% of Bigland men worked as a Painter decorator and 84% of Bigland women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bigland were Colliery Hewer Heavy Worker and Boarding House Keeper.

View Census Data for Bigland | 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

  • Painter decorator
    25%
  • Solicitor
    25%
  • Hotel Proprietor Porl
    25%
  • Colliery Hewer Heavy Worker
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Boarding House Keeper
    3%

What Bigland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Bigland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bigland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bigland

Passenger Lists

There are 615 immigration records available for the last name Bigland. 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 Bigland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 333 military records available for the last name Bigland. For the veterans among your Bigland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bigland military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bigland family history

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What is the average Bigland lifespan?

Between 1965 and 1992, in the United States, Bigland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1971. The average life expectancy for Bigland in 1965 was 46, and 75 in 1992.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bigland

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bigland 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bigland family tree

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