There are differing theories as to the originals of the Bigham surname and the “original” Bigham family or clan.
The town of Bingham today
Some hold that the family’s roots are embedded in British soil, in a place near Nottinghamshire called Bingham. The word itself derives from the Old English word bing – meaning a “hollow” – and “ham” – a homestead or farm.
Others claim the derivation comes from an even more distant source: 7th century Norse/Viking word bingr, meaning a byre (cottage) or manger. The 1857 book, “An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import” agrees that the name is taken from the town of Binghamham, but asserts that the word is Danish: “Bingham, a place where provisions were deposited; and ham, a town or village. Binghamham, a depository for grain; a place tilled, inhabited.”
The first known reference to the town in Nottingham was spelled Binggheham in the 1086 Domesday Book and, by 1165, it was apparently shortened to Bingeman. Early mentions of the surname include an 1175 reference to William de Bingeham in the Pipe Rolls of Nottingham, during the reign of King Henry II, William de Bingham of Lincoln in 1257, and William Byngham in the Assize Register of the city of Nottingham in 1433. (See the Internet Surname Database for more information.)
The town of Bingham in England
An interesting history of the Bingham name, as it is associated with the town of Bingham is related at the Bingham Association Official Website. According to that site, Sir Richard Brugge changed the family name to Bingham when he inherited the Bingham manor (which had been granted to his father, Ralph Brugge, a Nottingham merchant, by a charter from Earl Ferrers in 1263).
That website also notes:
“By the sixteenth century there were a good many Binghams living in Nottinghamshire. As estates were inherited by the eldest son in each generation, younger sons turned to skilled crafts. Apprenticeship became the norm as much as villeinage had been during feudal times. Queen Elizabeth’s Statute of Artificers set up a uniform national pattern under which no one could set up as a master or workman without ‘seven years’ apprenticeship. Many Binghams followed this pattern and drifted away from the family center becoming harder to trace.”
Bigham in Irish
Since the name cropped up in both Scotland and Ireland by the 15th century, it’s reasonable to assume that that members of the family traveled north and west from Nottingham.
Over the years, wildly different variations of the spelling are seen, including Biggum, Beigham, Biggum, Bigholm, Binggheman, and Byngham. The first recorded spelling of the family name in Scotland is shown to be that of John de Bigholme, witness, which was dated 1426, Records of Edinburgh, during the reign of King James I of Scotland, 1406-1437. A John Bygholme included in the “Register of the Great Seal of Scotland” was dean of guild in Edinburgh in 1428, and a Thomas of Bigholme was elected Magistrate of Edinburgh in 1456. (Internet Surname Database)
As we get closer to the 17th century, it becomes evident that the ancestors of “my” Bigham family were among those lowland Scots who, in the 1600s, crossed the Irish Sea to settle in the northernmost region of Ireland, that area which is now Northern Ireland or Ulster.
When the name Bingham changed to Bigham is another question with no definite answer. The name appears in both forms in Ireland and in the U.S. — and there are cases where the same person or family used both variations! According to one family historian, the “n” was dropped when the family left England for Ireland and Scotland; others still show it as Bingham when the family members came to America. Deeds and other records usually use the Bigham variation for THIS line of the family but, in other branches, the “n” was put back in and today there are many distant cousins among the Binghams and Bighams!
My mother is a Bigham and I have always loved this side of the fammily. She came from Delina Tennesse and I have seen the graves of many Bighams dateing back into the mid 1800′s. Thanks for the info, I just discovered a young Dr. Bigham at the Hospital I started working with, I will pass this on.
Hello, cousin (well, probably!) Glad you liked the info. I’m not done yet with the site … just taking a break. Then I will begin on the more recent generations and hopefully expand it to more than my direct line. Thanks for “passing it on” ….
born name sean bingham took moms madien name geting maried 10-1-11 was looking in family name
The Bigham/Bingham family history is real interesting!
My GrandMothers last name was Bigham, but I also have pictures with the name wrote as Bingham on the back. Most of these relatives live in Ohio, that I am aware of and I have gotten in touch with a few of them using ancestry.com and facebook. I was always under told that she was a cherokee indian. I watch a show on tv staying that the cherokee indians came to the United States from Overseas, possible ireland. I have William Bigham as being boing in 1760 and marrying a woman by the name of Sarah Barton. I am very interested in getting to the true story of my fathers family. My name is Charles Mason and my grandfather was married to Rosa Bigham. Thanks
I have read about one side of the Bigham family that moved to Ohio, and I believe they are related to “my” Bighams. There is some evidence that your William came to America in 1820, landing in Philadelphia. He was already married to Sarah (they married in 1783 according to what I could find). Have you seen this photo? It’s listed as William Bigham (1852 – 1918), father of Rosa Lea Bigham, who married George Wesley Mason (your grandfather). If I follow his line back, it leads to Isaac (1829-1896), and then to Samuel, and finally to William (the first generation). I have a feeling our two immigrant ancestors were cousins or other relations, since they all seemed to come from the same area in Ulster.
As for the Cherokee connection — it’s odd, because my father used to tell stories of one of his ancestors (he never knew which) who married an Indian woman. Of course, it was a terribly shameful thing back then! Anyway, I’ve never heard the theory that the Cherokees came from Ireland! Somehow, I think that television show got that wrong. If you research the tribe’s history and even look at their facial features, it’s clear they are most definitely Native Americans.
Still, it’s all a fascinating quest, isn’t it? You are so lucky to have photos of your ancestors!
if you seen me he has to be a realtive
Ha! That much family resemblance!?
Well my last name is Bighams. I’m assuming it’s another variation of Bingham, Bigham, and so on. Do any of you know of the Bigham families being slaveowners? I’m African American and there are so few of us. I’m having a hard time tracing this, but I’m really passionate about learning my ancestry. Can any of you help?
I haven’t yet come across a “Bighams” — with the “s” — but it is very likely from the same line as Bigham and Bingham. And yes, members of my family were slave owners as far back as the early to mid 1840s. William Bigham’s 1842 last will and testament specifically states “It was his will and desire that after his decease his beloved wife Sarah shall have Benjamin (commonly called big Ben) Celia the wife of Ben, and their children during his wife Sarah’s life & at her death to be disposed of as she may think proper. ”
When Sarah died less than five years later she, left to her son Hugh B. “her Negro man Ben and his children, namely Joe, Rufus, Lila, Samuel, and Anderson, but she enjoined it upon him not to part the Negroes.”
In the 1830 federal census, Hugh is shown to have nine people in his household: six “free white persons” and three slaves. Ten years later, his household consisted of 10 white persons and three slaves. But the 1850 slave schedule shows that Hugh owned only a single female slave. I have never been able to find out what happened to the other two slaves.
I tried researching Ben and his children, but could never find any information on them. As you know, tracing slave families is so difficult! I would love to hear more about what you find out!
Thanks so much for that info. I’m currently trying to find my great-granfather’s, Elder Price Bighams, parents. If I can fill in the gap between Benjamin’s children and my great-grandfather I will let you know!
I’m guessing the ‘s’ was added somewhere between those generations.
I know that slaves recieved the last name name of the owners, so it is safe for me to assume that Benjamin’s last name was Bigham, right?
From what I’ve read, some slaves took and kept the last name of their owners — but not all. In fact, as soon as they were free, many immediately changed their last names so as NOT to continue their association with their “masters.” Some took names like “Freeman,” “Black” and “Brown,” or the names of people they admired, like Lincoln. But since Bigham and its derivatives are certain of Anglo Saxon origin, any African Amercans with that name would have likely taken the name from their owners. I hope that was an indication that “my” Bighams were at least not cruel masters.
By the way, you might want to read this very interesting article on African American Genealogy.
My family goes back to a Samuel Bingham that married Mary Muldrow in 1813, their daughter married John boone in Sumter, AL and their daughter was my great grand mother, Louisa Jane Boone. It is very hard to find info about them. If anyone knows anything I would appreciate hearing it. Thank you..
Are you talking about Col. Samuel J. Bingham, born 1780 in South Carolina? The info I have shows that he and Mary had quite a few children, the first born of whom — Margaret, born 1813 — married John Boon (I have records with both the “e” and without the “e”) had a LOT of kids, including Louisa Jane. I may be able to dig up some more info on Samuel (I do show a record of his service in the War of 1812). Are you mostly interested in him and Mary or the later generations? Feel free to use the contact form to email me directly and we can compare notes. — Barbara Bigham
I am very interested in all that you have on Samuel and Mary, also the later generations. I am fairly new to this genealogy so I don’t have to much, my brother was very involved before he passed away. I know Louisa’s Mom and Dad was Margaret Caroline and John Boone[Boon]. Louisa married Walton Wainwright and they had twin boys. General Lee and Sidney. My grandfather was General Lee. I do appreciate your help. Are you related to them?
I don’t recall coming across those names in my study, but I was sticking pretty much to “direct” ancestors. I hope to continue my research very soon and I’ll try to include whatever I find on any other Bighams! I’ll see what I can find on the line beginning with Samuel and Mary!
Hi, I’m the descendant of John Bigham, the brother of Andrew Bigham Sr. I was wondering if you have any information over John, or any of his descendants, thanks.
I’ve always wanted to research more into that line since you appear to have some interesting ancestors. I’ll see what I can dig up and email you in a week or so…
Alright, thank you. I really love genealogy, so this should be interesting. Much appreciated.
my grandma told me. my lots of great grandma was a native american that married a i think called a pilgrim? and i didnt see that any where? could that be true? i have brown hair and blue eyes from my dad and my mom has redish brown hair w/ green eyes. i dont know if my family tree is anywhere?
Hi, Lizzie! It’s wonderful that your grandma told you so much about your family history. The line of the Bigham family that I am researching arrived in America (Pennsylvania) sometime between 1730 and 1750. The Pilgrims came to America in the 1620s — almost a century before. They lived in Massachusetts. I do not think any Bighams were among the Pilgrims, but perhaps one of the Pilgrim descendants married a Bigham many years later. I have not found that, but anything is possible!
My father told me stories, too, that one of my great great grandmothers was a Native American, probably from the Choctow nation. Many of the early settlers in the Southern states lived near Indian villages and some of them married. Maybe this was the great grandma you were told about. You would need to do a lot of research. Be sure to ask your relatives to tell you as much as possible about the family history. Write it all down. Names, dates, places — everything you can find out. Then, you can start doing more research and learn about your ancestors. It’s a lot of fun!
Thanks so leaving a comment and I hope you stop by to learn more about the different Bighams that I am doing research on. Who knows? Maybe we are cousins!
My father was William Andrew Bigham born Nov 1, 1922. His grandfather was William Andrew Bigham who lived in Gettysburg on a farm during the Civil War. If anyone has info on this line of Bighams (PA) I would appreciate hearing from you.
I’ll see what I can find and email you if I dig up anything of interest!
I was just wondering where we came from.thanks for your work on this site. Dan Bingham
Hi- I love all of the information you have uncovered. It’s wonderful! I have been tracing the Bingham side of my family going back to Ireland (“Bigham”). I was wondering if you know anything about a Samuel Moses Bingham. He seems to be the first to change the name from Bigham to Bingham. I sure hope I am on the correct trail. Samuel Moses Bingham was born in York, PA in either 1759 and died Bedford, Tennessee. His parents (Samuel and Elizabeth Kennedy) came over from Dublin, I believe. If my research is correct, I have traced the Binghams or Bighams back to a James B. II Bigham who was born in 1665 in Ireland. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Hey, we may be related!
Thanks very much,
Mark Cooper
Hello! Samuel Moses Bingham/Bigham is actually my first cousin 6x removed! Although not in my direct “pedigree” I have done some research on him. I’m assuming you know he was married to Ursula Granville and had 7 children by her, one of whom was Elihu Hall Bigham (1800-1873). Quite an interesting history there! Be sure to check http://is.gd/WV8dn5 and http://is.gd/L50WRb for more info. I’ll email you directly to provide more details. Thanks for stopping by this site!
Hi, Barbara
Thans very much for the information and link. They really helped and seems to confirm that my family is indeed related to William Gilmore Bingham and many others before him. Last night I pretty much completed the trail from my Great Grandfather Lemmard Bingham all the way back to James B. II Bingham who was born in 1655.
Thanks so much for all of your help. If you would like to contact me, my e-mail is:
tutterz@verizon.net
Thanks,
Mark
I have not really looked into our lineage much, but am interested in finding a connection to the overall Bigham scheme. My granfather’s name was Claude Bigham and lived in Attala, Ala. He was married to Grace Grady and had 11 children. His father was named James ( I dont know his middle name ). Fairly sketchy info, huh? Also, there is a book written about the Bighams in Virginia, called ” A Piece of the Foxes Hide “. It chronicles a more notorious side of the family.
Although I’m familiar with “The Last Of the Bighams” I hadn’t heard of the “Foxes Hide” book. I suppose all families have a few skeletons in their closet — including the Bighams!
I am working on the Robert Samuel Bigham tree. He was born 1787 in NC and married 28 March 1810 to Margaret Clark. He died “before 1850 in Bedford Co, TN.” His father is supposedly Samuel Bigham, Sr. who married Ursula Granville.
His descendants are longtime Coryell Co, TX, residents.
A descendant told me that his father (grandson of RSB) said they were not related to the Bighams in Bell Co, TX. However, your info says Samuel Bigham’s son was Elihu Hall Bigham (from The Story of Bell County, TX, vol 1, published by Bell Co Historical Commission).
So, IF Samuel Bigham and Ursula Granville were the parents of Robert Samuel Bigham, they must be related to the Bell Co Bighams.
Can you comment or send me your information on Samuel? I know I’m asking alot, but this research has been difficult. Can you contact me on pick@zianet.com?
Pam