Surname Riggsby - Meaning and Origin

Riggsby: What does the surname Riggsby mean?

Riggsby is a surname with origins from the United Kingdom, mainly England. It is a locational surname derived from places named Rigsby in England. The name Rigsby is made up of two Old Norse elements: 'hryggr', which means a ridge and 'by', which means a farm or a village. Hence, Rigsby means 'farm or village on the ridge'. It was initially given to those who lived in or had connections with those places. Over time, as families relocated, the name persisted as a way of identifying individuals from a particular family line. As with many surnames, various spellings can be found over time, including Rigby, Rigbie, and Rigsbie, among others. Today, individuals with the surname Riggsby can be found in many parts of the world, including America and England. Its distribution was significantly influenced by historical events like migration and colonization. Surnames, like Riggsby, carry historical significance as they offer insights into an individual's ancestral roots and family history.

Riggsby: Where does the name Riggsby come from?

The last name Riggsby is mainly found in the United States today, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region and in the South. Specifically, the surname generally appears in elevated numbers in North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. Analysis of census data throughout the states reveals that the largest number of the Riggsby surname is located in Angier, North Carolina. Moreover, nearby cities such as Wilson, Benson, Dunn, Rocky Mount, Clayton, and Tarboro in North Carolina all feature larger than average populations with the Riggsby surname.

In addition, reports have shown that moderate populations of the surname appear in other states in the Southeast including South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. It is less common in other states, but a small yet significant population of Riggsbys have been found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Texas. Historical records also indicate that small numbers of the Riggsby surname have spread throughout the United States, making the surname somewhat geographically diverse, though the largest concentrations remain mainly in the Southeast.

Variations of the surname Riggsby

The surname Riggsby has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The name Riggsby is most likely derived from the Old Norse byname “Roarki” or “Rig(g)ar” which is derived from the word “rigg“ meaning ‘pole’ or ‘ridge’. Consequently, variants and spellings of the surname Riggsby include: Rigby, Riggey, Riggby, Rigg, Riggson, Rigson, Roark, Roarky, and Ryck.

In Scotland, there are several variants of the surname that stem from the Gaelic language such as MacRochard, MacRigford, MacRorik, and MacRorke. Surnames stemming from Gaelic include: MacRorick, MacRorie, MacRorieck, and MacRorik.

Additionally, there are variants of the surname Riggsby which come from Irish and Gaelic languages such as MacRee, MacRea, MacRegar, MacRegher, MacRegor, MacRorke, and Callary. These surnames may appear as: MacRea, MacReagh, Callary, McReagh, McRea, McCraig, MacCraig, Callary, and Colonel.

Finally, there are surnames that come from the Norman French language, such as Rigges. This surname typically appears as: Rigge, Rigges, Rygges, Regges, and Reges.

All in all, the surname Riggsby is a diverse one that has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. While some variants and spellings are of the same origin, others stem from different languages and backgrounds, making it an intriguing and varied surname.

Famous people with the name Riggsby

• Caroline Riggsby, a prominent American physician who has served as an advocate for global family health and education reform initiatives.
• Larry Riggsby, a former college football coach at Virginia Tech.
• Steven Riggsby, a former professional football player for the New York Jets.
• Joseph Riggsby, a prominent American physicist and Nobel Prize-winning researcher in quantum mechanics and the electronic structure of atoms.
• Sam Riggsby, an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.
• Kathy Riggsby, a well-known American actress.
• Jody Riggsby, a former professional tennis player who competed on the WTA and ITF tour.
• Dean Riggsby, an American entrepreneur best known for his work on Wall Street.
• Walter Riggsby, an American composer and musician who collaborated with some of the most influential jazz artists of the 20th century.
• Lyle Riggsby, a U.S. Army colonel, Vietnam War veteran, and former prisoner of war.

Other surnames

RiggsRiggsbee