VIRGO
Virgo is a surname of Latin origin, derived from the word virgo, meaning “maiden” or “virgin.” Its usage in English records is typically that of a nickname, often connoting purity or chastity. The name may have originally been conferred upon individuals engaged in religious service or those with close associations to the Virgin Mary.
Historical documentation shows that the surname appears in a variety of spellings, including Vergo, Virgoe, Virgo, Virgin and Verquin. These variations are recorded in medieval English documents, suggesting that the name was introduced to the British Isles following the Norman invasion of 1066. Consequently, the name is considered a Norman‑French import with English usage thereafter.
Three principal origins for the surname are recognised, all of which stem from nicknames. One hypothesis proposes the name as a theatrical cast designation for an actor who portrayed the Virgin Mary in the travelling miracle plays of the Middle Ages. Such performances were conducted exclusively by men or boys up to the seventeenth century, with women only permitted on stage after the end of the Cromwellian reforms of 1659.
A second possibility considers the surname as a descriptor applied to a shy or modest young man, or alternatively, used satirically for one who was notably less reserved. In either case, the derivation remains linked to the Latin term virginis, translating to “maiden.”
Notable early attestations of the surname include Isabella Virgo in the Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aides of 1428, William Virgyn recorded in London in 1581, and John Vergine also of London in 1610. Further examples are found with Thomas Virgo, who married Ann Tabb on 13 August 1627 at Harrow‑on‑the‑Hill.
The earliest documented spelling is thought to be that of Simon Vig, dated 1275 in the Hundred Rolls of Kent. This record falls within the reign of King Edward I, a monarch known by the sobriquet “The Hammer of the Scots,” who ruled from 1272 to 1307.
Typical given names associated with the Virgo surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Lee
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Barbara
- Carol
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Jean
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Rachel
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracy
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 Virgo in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Virgo are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 1,451 people named Virgo in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,486th most common surname in Britain. Around 22 in a million people in Britain are named Virgo.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Virgo
- Adam Virgo - Football player
- John Virgo - Snooker player
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.