Higgins is a surname found in England and in Ireland, with several origins.[1]

Higgins
Pronunciation/ˈhɪɡɪnz/
Language(s)English, Irish
Origin
Language(s)English, Irish
Derivation"Hugh" / "Hig" / "Hick"
Ó hUiginn (Irish)
Meaning"son of Hig (Hugh)" / "son of Hick (Richard)" (English)
"descendant of Uiginn" (Irish)
Other names
Variant form(s)

In England, the name originates from:

  • the name Hugh
  • the name Hig (both the son of Hugh and a diminutive of Hugh)
  • Hicke, a diminutive of Richard

each then stemmed with the patronymic termination 'ings' meaning 'belonging to', or 'the son of'.

In Ireland, the name is the Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Ó hUiginn, 'descendant of Uiginn'. Although there is another variation which is also an Irish surname McHiggins.[2] Uiginn being the Gaelic version of the Old Norse víkingr or Viking.[3]

In business

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In education and science

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In literature

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In military service

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In music

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In politics

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In sports

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In television and film

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Other professions

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Fictional characters

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  • Bubba Higgins, on the American TV sitcom Mama's Family, played by Allan Kayser
  • Henry Higgins, in the play Pygmalion and the derivative musical stage play and later movie, My Fair Lady
  • Jonathan Higgins, on the American TV series Magnum, P.I., played by John Hillerman
    • Juliet Higgins, female version of the same character, on the 2018 reboot

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
  2. ^ "Surname Higgins: Meaning Origin Variants".
  3. ^ "Higgins Name Meaning & Higgins Family History at Ancestry.com". www.ancestry.com.