HIGGINS
Higgins is a surname of Irish provenance, derived from the Gaelic patronymic phrase Ó hUiginn, which translates as “descendant of Uiginn.” The personal name Uiginn is itself rooted in the Old Irish word uig, meaning “Viking” or “sea‑rover.” Consequently, individuals bearing the name are historically linked to a lineage that may include Viking or maritime warriors.
Within Ireland the surname is most commonly associated with the western provinces, particularly County Mayo, County Sligo and the province of Connaught. In these regions the O’Higgins family once held a family seat and the name remained a prominent marker of local heritage for many generations.
During the 19th century, the catastrophic potato famine prompted a mass exodus from Ireland. Consequently, the surname Higgins spread across many English‑speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. In England it is most frequently encountered in the north‑western region, a pattern that reflects the routes of early Irish migration.
The surname has a number of spelling variations that arose through anglicisation, dialectal differences and geographic dispersion. Common variants include Huggins, Higgin, Higginson, Hicken, Hickin, and Higgenson. Other surnames that are historically linked to the same Gaelic root are Hegan, Heggin, Egan, O’Hegon and MacEgan. These variants are noted particularly in areas of significant Irish diaspora.
Among contemporary figures bearing the surname, Michael D. Higgins, the current President of the Republic of Ireland, is the most prominent. His prominence further highlights the enduring presence of the surname within Irish public life.
Typical given names associated with the Higgins surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Higgins in...
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There are approximately 33,634 people named Higgins in the UK. That makes it the 230th most common surname in Britain. Around 516 in a million people in Britain are named Higgins.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Higgins
- Jarad Anthony Higgins - American rapper and singer
- Alex Higgins - Northern Irish snooker player (1949 to 2010)
- John Higgins - Scottish snooker player
- Clare Higgins - Actress
- Rosalyn Higgins, Baroness Higgins - Barrister, judge and scholar
- Anthony Higgins - Actor
- John Michael Higgins - American actor and comedian
- Cleo Higgins - Singer
- David Higgins - World Rally Championship driver
- Polly Higgins - Scottish barrister, advocate and expert in ecocide (1968 to 2019)
- Mark Higgins - Racing driver
- Terence Higgins, Baron Higgins - Sprinter
- Terry Higgins - Welsh clerk, barman and DJ; prominent early AIDS death (1945 to 1982)
- Mark Higgins - Football player
- Chris Higgins - Scottish football player
- Julia Higgins - Polymer scientist
- Dick Higgins - Composer and poet (1938 to 1998)
- Edward Higgins - General of The Salvation Army (1864 to 1947)
- Ryan Higgins - Cricketer
- Godfrey Higgins - Archaeologist (1772 to 1833)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.