Briggs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The English surname Briggs derives from the Old Norse word “bryggja.” It is the Northern English form of the word bridge. 1 2 Brig(g) is “the northern [England] and Scottish word for bridge.” 3

Early Origins of the Briggs family

The surname Briggs was first found in the Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John where the personal name Brig and de Brug occur. 4

Later in Yorkshire, Robert del Brig was listed there at Wakefield in 1275. 3 Later in Cumberland, Alexander del Brigg was registered in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Hugh ate Brugge and Roger ate Brugge in Oxfordshire while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Juliana del Bryg, Robertus atte Brig and Ricardus atte Brygg. 5

Between the 11th and 15th century there were numerous recordings of various members of the family name as they flourished in the north and into Scotland. “Duncanus Brigis appears in Murthlac, Banffshire, 1550 and Catherine Brigs was married in Edinburgh, 1611.” 6