Wiggins Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Meaning, Origin, Etymology
The Olde English surname of Wiggan has two origins that it may have been derived from the first being the name of an ancestor such as “the son of Wigand”, “Wigant” meaning ‘warrior’ from the verb of “Wigan” meaning to fight, the second being from the the Breton personal name of “Wincon or Uuicon” meaning ‘worthy’, ‘high’ or ‘noble’.  The Wiggans immigrants to America arrived from many locations including Ireland, England, Great Britain, Scotland, Canada and Germany. There were over 700 Wiggans that served in the Civil War and over 700 that served in the American Revolution. Only a few are listed below. There was a ferry that was used to cross the Mississippi River at St. Louis before there were any bridges built and it was owned and operated by a Mr. Wiggins.  Most pioneers that headed west had most likely used Mr. Wiggins ferry to cross at St. Louis. There was another Mr. Wiggins that was one of the first settlers and helped establish Denver, Colorado. He was a guide for wagon trains. Also it is possible that the Wiggins families of America may have been some of the first people to settle North Carolina and may have been originally from Virginia.

Spelling Variations
Wiggin, Wiggins, Wigan, Wigans, Wiegand, Wigand, Wigens, Wigginss, Wyggins, Vviggins, Wjggins, Weggins, Wigginsa, Wgigins, Wiggisn, Wiggnis

Early Marriage Records for Wiggins
Andrew Wiggin married Hannah Bradstreet June 3, 1659 in Andover, Massachusetts
Angew Wiggin married Abigail Follett September 2, 1697 in Dover, New Hampshire
Symon Wiggins married Alice Boydon July 8, 1576 in Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Milton By Gravesend, Kent, England
Agnetem Wiggins married Johnannes Hardye 1580 in Glatton, Huntingdon, England
Tamikyn Wiggins married John Van Suet August 30, 1586 in Saint Mary At Hill, London, England
Joane Wiggins married Willm. Sangwyn May 2, 1591 in Long Wittenham, Berkshire, England

Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Wiggins ranks 7,213th  in popularity worldwide as of the 2014 Census and approximately 79,304 people carry the Wiggins surname worldwide. The name ranks particularly high in the following six states: Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and California.   It ranks highest in the following countries: United States (65,256), England (6,546), Australia (2,293), Canada (1,928), South Africa (880), New Zealand (414).

Early Bearers of Surname
Wyranus Man-seal, Henry III-Edward I.
Wuganus de Wyleby, Henry III-Edward I.
Wygan le Bretun, Essex, Henry III-Edward I.
Domesday Book of 1086 as “Wighen”
William Wygeyn, which was dated 1275, in the Norfolk Hundred Rolls

History, Genealogy & Ancestry
HERRINGSHAW’S CITY BLUE BOOK OF BIOGRAPHY: NEW YORKERS OF 1917: TEN THOUSAND BIOGRAPHIES
WIGGIN, ALBERT HENRY, banker, was born Feb. 21, 1868 in Medfield, Mass. He is president of the Chase National bank; director of the National Bank of Commerce, Liberty National bank, Astor Trust company, and numerous other corporations.
WIGGIN, FREDERICK HOLME, physician, surgeon and gynecologist of 55 West Thirty-sixth St., was born Dec. 26, 1853, in England.  Since 1892 he has been visiting surgeon to the New York hospital.
WIGGIN, MRS. KATE DOUGLAS, author of 143 West Fifty-eighth St., was born Sept. 28, 1857, in Philadelphia, PA.  She is the author of A Summer in a Canon; Susanna and Sue; Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, a play; and other works.
WIGGINS, CARLETON, painter and artist of 1079 Dean St., Brooklyn was born on March 4, 1848 in Turners, N.Y.   His best known works are Morning on the Hills; The Wanderers; Ploughing in France; and After Wind-Rain.
WIGGINS, GUY CARLETON, artist of 15 West Sixty-seventh st., was born Feb. 23, 1883 in Brooklyn, N.Y.  He has exhibited at the National Academy, Pennsylvania Academy, Chicago Art Institute; and other galleries.

SEVEN HUNDRED ANCESTORS PG. 133 CH. L WIGGINS
Wiggins is a Frankish name brought to England by the Normans.  It is on record as early as 1273 in Essex and Norfolk Counties.  A John Wiggins came to the colonies in 1656 and settled in Southold, New York. From there his descendants multiplied and spread to the west.  A Thomas Wiggins lived in Hampshire County, Virginia. His will with a date of Aug. 6, 1776 was probated there on Feb. 12, 1778. His children all born in Hampshire County were Archibold born 1744, Thomas, Comfort Sabbaret, Chris and Philip.  The will of Philip Wiggins was dated July 17, 1820 in Harrison County, Kentucky. His children were Mary Chambers, Hannah Williams, Sarah Martin, Christen Martin, Rachel Osborn, Drusella Homes, Rutha Kernes, Elender Reeves and James Harvey. Archibold Wiggins, born in 1744, married Mary Flint of Flynt.  She was born in Hampshire County, Virginia on Jan. 18, 1748 and lived to be 99 years old. She died in Harrison County on Oct. 13, 1847 and is buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery near Oddville, Kentucky. Her husband, Archibold lived to the age of 73 and died in Mason County on Feb. 22, 1817. He is buried in the Shannon Cemetery, northeast of Mt. Olivet, Kentucky.   His will was made on Apr. 4, 1812 and is recorded in Mason County. The children of Archibold and Mary Wiggins were Freelove, Joseph, Thomas, Philip, Archibold, Benjamin F., Enoch, John, Matilda, Charity and Frances. Some sources claim that Benjamin F. and Enoch may not have been their sons. After a great deal of research and accumulation of voluminous material regarding the preceding Wiggins’ lineage we are reasonably certain that we are connected to it but have not been able to establish a definitive link.  However, we have trace our ancestry back to our great great great grandfather, John Wiggins, who was born before 1765 and appears in the Mason County census for 1800 and the Nicholas County, Kentucky census for 1810 and 1820. His will dated Aug. 9, 1824 in Nicholas County bequeathed to his wife, Sally, his plantation, three negro slaves, Gilbura, George, and Agg and all his stock and household furniture with the proviso that at her death everything be divided equally between his two sons, William and Archibold.  The will was probated in 1828. Archibold was born in Nicholas County in 1796 although the 1800 census shows his father living in Mason County. He died May 9, 1855. William was born in 1782. He is shown in the Nicholas County Census for 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 and 1850. On Jan 21, 1810 he married Elizabeth A. the daughter of Nathaniel Wells. She was born in Kentucky about 1794. The will of William Wiggins was made in Nicholas County on Sept. 23, 1858 and probated in Oct. 1863. He bequeathed $50.00 to his daughter, Ruth Claypole, $100.00 to his daughter Malinda Mullikin, $100 to his daughter Jane Wood and $250.00 and one negro girl named Elizabeth to his son Franklin V.  The balance of his estate “both real and personal the land and negroes to be hers (his wife Elizabeth) during her natural life”. After her death the real estate and negroes were to go to his son. Ruth Wiggins was born Oct. 11, 1811 in Kentucky, probably Nicholas County. On June 25, 1829 she was married in Nicholas County to John, the son of Jonathan and Hannah Doan Claypoole. After 1850 the couple moved to Vermillion County, Illinois and are buried there in the Walnut Corners Cemetery.

FREDERICK HOLME WIGGIN
Wiggin, Frederick Holme, of N.Y. City (son of Frederick Wiggin, 1821-69, London, England of Litchefield, Ct., married Elizabeth Sumner; son of Timothy, married Catherine Holme; son of Benjamin married Elizabeth Clements; son of Joseph married Susanna Barker; son of Bradstreet married Anne Chase; son of Andrew married Hannah daughter of Govr. Bradstreet and Anne, daughter of Govr. Dudley; son of Capt. Thomas Wiggin, the eminent pioneer of New Hampshire, 1625).  Born at Kingston-on-Thames, England, December 26, 1853; Physician; M.D. Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N.Y., 1877; maried 1st June 12, 1878 Abby Fiske Merriam, 2nd March 14, 1907 Christina Ferguson Orr. They had issue 1) Frederick Holme born March 16, 1882. 2) Gerard Sumner born February 15, 1884 died April 10, 1887. 3) Lewis Merriam born February 22, 1890. 4) Lucy Merriam born February 16, 1883 died January 31, 1887. 5) Charlotte. 6) Anne. 7) Helen Phelps.  Arms~ Gules, three mullets, argent a chief or. Crest~ A spur or between two wings ppr. Motto~ To thine own self be true. Residence~ 55 West 36th Street, N.Y. City; Litchfield, Ct. Club~ Union League.

TARLETONS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Margaret Tarlton (Stileman, Elias, Elias, Richard), born in New Market 1767.  Married about 1789 Bradstreet Wiggin of Exeter. He was a farmer and they made their home in Bradford, Vt., just across the Connecticut river from Piermont, where Colonel Tarlton and her brother William were living.  She died at Corinth, Vt., December 1, 1855. Their children 1) John T. Wiggin born 1796 in Canaan, N.H. died August 28, 1887. 2) Enoch Wiggin born February 23, 1799 in Bradford, Vt. 3) Stillman T. Wiggin, born in Bradford, Vt. All married all had children but one and all are dead.  John T. Wiggin married Nancy C. Plummer, of Washington, Vt.; was a farmer and lived in West Corinth, Vt. He died August 23, 1887 and his wife January 1, 1844. Their children 1) Cyrus Heath Wiggin born August 13, 1821 married May 10, 1847, Julia C. Heath. He was a flagman at Charlestown, Mass.; both dead; one child.  2) Stillman Tarlton Wiggin, born December 31, 1822; married January 1, 1850, Sarah J. Tabor of Corinth, Vt, where they now live on a farm; no child. 3) Isaac Heath Wiggin born May 22, 1825; married December 25, 1848, Malvina Leavitt of Corinth, Vt., where he is now farming; four children. 4) John Tarlton Wiggin, Jr., born December 10, 1826; married May 15, 1849, Harriet M. Hanson; farmer; dead and left two children.  5) Charles Collins Wiggin born August 25, 1828; married Laura E. Hill of Waterford, Vt.; four children. 6) Louisa Heath Wiggin born September 23, 1830; married James B. Abbott, of Fairlee, Vt., a farmer and they have six children. 7) Lyman Collins Wiggin born March 31, 1832 married in California where he is a miner, with four children. 8) Mary Heath Wiggin born December 10, 1833; married Loren A. Densmore of Chelsea, Vt.; six children.  9) George Pratt Wiggin born September 12, 1835. 10) Susan Merrill Wiggin born June 26, 1837; married Ephraim C. Wilmot of Fairlee, Vt.; six children. Enoch married Mary Carter, of Newbury, Vt., where he lived as a farmer. Their children 1) Laura Ann Wiggin born July 18, 1821 married 1st Daniel Eastman of Newbury, Vt. who died December 2, 1857, and 2nd April 5, 1859 G.L. Butler; no children. 2) Mary Carter Wiggin born December 6, 1822; married on Haseltine of Newbury, Vt., and died May 29, 1855; three children: Helen M., George E., and Harriet.  3) Sarah Jane Wiggin born March 28, 1829; married Henry M. Buxton, of Newbury, Vt.; children, Charles H., Lillian, and Luella L. Stillman T. Wiggin married and had two sons 1) Merrill Wiggin married Sarah Brown of Vershire, Vt.; farmer; no child. 2) George Wiggin married Julia Abbott of Fairlee, Vt.; trader, and dying, left two sons and one daughter.

Early American Immigration and New World Settlers
Wiggins Settlers in United States in the 17th, 18th & 19th Century
Mary Wiggins, who arrived in Virginia in 1661
William Wiggins, who landed in Maryland in 1674
William Wiggins, who arrived in North Carolina in 1701
Thomas Wiggins, aged 46, who arrived in New York in 1812
Luke Wiggins, aged 27, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1812
Margaret Wiggins, who landed in New York, NY in 1817
Hugh Wiggins, who landed in New York, NY in 1817
Eliza Wiggins, who sailed from Ireland to New York in 1817

Wiggins Settlers in Canada in the 18th & 19th Century
Mr. Benjamin Wiggins U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1815
Mrs. Charlotte Wiggins U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784
Mr. Daniel Wiggins U.E. born in Queens County, New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784
Mrs. Isabella Wiggins U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784
Mr. Jacob Wiggins U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784
Mrs. Eliza Wiggins, aged 60 who emigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “Sobraon” departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847
Henry Wiggins, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
George Wiggins, who was living in Ontario in 1871

Wiggins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
James Wiggins, English convict from Sussex, who was transported aboard the “Argyle” on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen’s Land, Australia
Sarah Wiggins, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Florentia”
Sarah Wiggins, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Florentia” in 1849

Wiggins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
Robert Wiggins, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Oliver Lang” in 1858
William Wiggins, aged 16, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen Bee” in 1872
Richard Wiggins, aged 40, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship “Ballochmyle” in 1874
Eliza Wiggins, aged 44, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship “Ballochmyle” in 1874
George Wiggins, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Strathnaver” in 1874

Mottoes
To thine own self be true.

Grantees
WIGGIN , of Bromfield, co. Warw., [1797] Vol. XX, fol. 105.
WIGGIN„ Sir W. IL, Bart., of co. Warw., and Wales, 1892,* Vol. LXVI, fol. 326.
WIGGINS, Capt. Arthur, of Christchurch, Hampsh., 1896, Vol. LXIX, fol. 160.

Notables
Alan Wiggins (1958–1991), American baseball player
Andrew Wiggins (born 1995), Canadian basketball player, son of Mitchell Wiggins
Bernice Love Wiggins (1897–1936), Texas poet
Bradley Wiggins (born 1980), British cyclist, son of Gary Wiggins
Brice Wiggins, American attorney and politician.
Candice Wiggins (born 1987), American basketball player, daughter of Alan Wiggins
Charles E. Wiggins (1927–2000), U.S. Representative from California, and later a United States federal judge
Chris Wiggins, Canadian actor
David Wiggins, British philosopher
Ezekiel Stone Wiggins, Canadian author, Ottawa Prophet
Gary Wiggins, Australian cyclist
Gerald Wiggins, American jazz pianist and organist
Graham Wiggins, American musician
Ira Loren Wiggins (1899–1987), American botanist
James Russell Wiggins, American newspaper editor
Jermaine Wiggins, American football player
Joe Wiggins, (1909–1982), English professional football player
John & Audrey Wiggins, American Country music duo
Joseph Wiggins, 1832–1905) English mariner
Keith Wiggins, British motor racing team owner
Kim Douglas Wiggins, American sculptor
Laura Slade Wiggins, an American television and film actress and musician
Marianne Wiggins, American novelist and former wife of Salman Rushdie
Mitchell Wiggins (born 1959), American basketball player
Randy Wiggins, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Stephen Wiggins, American applied mathematician
Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins (1849–1908), American pianist
Wiley Wiggins, American actor

American Revolution Veterans
Andrew Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of 2nd Lieutenant
Benj Wiggins, South Carolina, Rank of Ensign
Caker Wiggins, Connecticut, Rank of Private
Cohen Wiggins, Connecticut, Rank of Private
Cornelius Wiggins, Connecticut, Rank of 1st Lieutenant
David Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Private
Henry Wiggins, Rhode Island, Rank of Private
James Wiggins, Virginia, Rank of Private
Jas Wiggins, Virginia, Rank of Private
John Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Private
Levy Wiggins, North Carolina, Rank of Musician
Mark Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Robt Wiggins, New York, Rank of Private
Stepn Wiggins, New York, Rank of Private
Theophilus Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Private
Thomas Wiggins, North Carolina, Rank of Private
Walter Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Sergeant
William Wiggins, Virginia, Rank of Private
Willisa Wiggins, New York, Rank of Lieutenant
Wilson Wiggins, Virginia, Rank of Private
Wilson Wiggins, Virginia,, Rank of Soldier
Wint Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Private
Winthrop Wiggins, New Hampshire, Rank of Private

Civil War Veterans
Abiatha Wiggins, 14th Regiment, Maine Infantry, Union, Maine
Bartimus Wiggins, 17th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Confederate, North Carolina
Cary Wiggins, 13th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Daniel Wiggins, 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, Union, Pennsylvania
Edward Wiggins, 62nd Regiment, Georgia Cavalry, Confederate, Georgia
Franklin Wiggins, 77th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Union, Ohio
George Wiggins, 1st Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Harris Wiggins, 31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, Confederate, Tennessee
Isaac Wiggins, 83rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, Union, Pennsylvania
Jackson Wiggins, 17th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Lee Wiggins, Jeff Davis Legion, Mississippi Cavalry, Confederate, Mississippi
Major Wiggins, 21st Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Newell Wiggins, 9th Regiment, Maine Infantry, Union, Maine
Orville Wiggins, 1st Regiment, Vermont Heavy Artillery, Union, Vermont
Patrick Wiggins, 5th Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Union, Rhode Island
Randall Wiggins, 14th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Samuel Wiggins, 9th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Union, Michigan
Thomas Wiggins, 21st Regiment, Confederate, Georgia
Van Buren Wiggins, 15th Regiment Iowa Infantry, Union, Iowa
Wyatt Wiggins, Clark’s Special Battalion, North Carolina Militia, Confederate, North Carolina
York Wiggins, 37th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry, Union, U.S. Colored Troops
Zelotus Wiggins, 136th Regiment, New York Infantry, Union, New York

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Gu. three mullets ar. a chief or. Crest—A spur or, betw. two wings ppr.
2) Per pale or and vert two chevronels betw. three trefoils slipped and counterchanged. Crest—A talbot statant ar. spotted sa. betw. two trees in perspective ppr.