Surname Riggins - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestry and Forming Connections: My Experience with the iGENEA DNA Test

This review succinctly captures the enlightening experience of using the iGENEA DNA test, exploring the Celtic roots of the surname Riggins, and the connections made with distant relatives and fellow Riggins worldwide through the DNA database.

C. Riggins

Riggins: What does the surname Riggins mean?

The last name Riggins is of English or Scottish origin. It is derived from a topographical term for someone who lived in a clearing in the woods. It was likely first used as a surname to denote someone who either worked in the woods, or who lived in such a clearing.

The Riggins spelling is typically a derivation of the more common name Riggin, which has been found in records dating back to at least the 16th century. The Riggin spelling was likely derived from a variation of Reggie, which is an old English form of the name.

Since its earliest use, the name has continued to be popular and bearers of the name have commonly been found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Riggins is believed to have been a fairly uncommon name until the mid to late 19th century when it began to increase in popularity. It has spread in America and England, and is now also found in many other countries.

In more recent times, the name has become known for its most famous bearer, former American football player John Matthew Riggins. A five-time Pro Bowler, Riggins was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1983 and also named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Riggins: Where does the name Riggins come from?

The last name Riggins is not particularly common today, but is primarily concentrated in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2019, there were 5,306 people living in the United States with the last name Riggins. Most of them reside in the Southern region of the country. Specifically, those with the last name Riggins are primarily found in Texas (1,205), Georgia (971), Alabama (749), Mississippi (609), Virginia (628), Arkansas (541), Kentucky (225), and Oklahoma (221). There also appears to be some level of geographic clustering, with the concentration of the Riggins family name being especially high in the counties of Randolph (AL), Claiborne (MS), Dallas (TX), Gordon (GA), and Mercer (KY). This map-based list of counties shows Riggins to be most popular in the southern United States, but it should be noted that it is still relatively uncommon throughout the country.

Variations of the surname Riggins

The surname Riggins has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most commonly seen variations include Reagon(s), Riggan(s), Riagan(s), Regans, Region(s), Rigan(s), Ragan(s), Ragon(s), Rygan(s), Ryggan(s), Riggins, and Ryggin(s).

The surname is of English origin, with its roots stemming from the Old English personal name Rig(g)en, which is derived from the personal name Rig(g)e with the diminutive suffix -en. It is thought to have been brought to Briton by Scandinavian settlers and was popular throughout Northern and Western England. This is evidenced by its prevalence as a surname in the counties of Derbyshire, Cumberland and Lancashire.

The earliest recorded version of the surname dates back to 1301, when William Riggin was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland, meaning that it was in use in Britain for quite some time before the start of the 16th century. Since then, the surname has continued to be used across Britain throughout the centuries.

Over the past few centuries, the prevalence of the surname has been seen not only in the United Kingdom but across the world, especially the United States and Canada, due to the emigration of people with the surname in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, and Ohio, and in Canada, it primarily found in Alberta and Ontario.

In conclusion, due to its various forms, the surname Riggins has seen a great deal of variation in usage and spelling over the centuries, and is still popular today in the form of the various variants of its origin.

Famous people with the name Riggins

• Robert Riggins: Also known as "The Diesel" is a former American Football Fullback who played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins from 1975 to 1985.
• Ricky Riggins: A British Street Artist who is known for his abstract murals in London.
• Bradley Riggins: An Australian Actor who is best known for his role in "Neighbours", a soap opera on the Seven Network.
• John Riggins: A retired Hall of Fame NFL Football player who was a running back for the Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs from 1971 to 1985.
• Jacob Riggins: An American Actor and Director who is best known for his work on the hit drama series "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul".
• Noah Riggins: A Country Music Singer and Songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
• Nikki Riggins: An American Professional Wrestler who is currently signed to WWE under the ring name Nikki Cross.
• Jennifer Riggins: An American Model and Actress who is best known for her roles in the films "Scary Movie 3" and "The Crucifixion".
• David Riggins: A Musician and Composer from New York City who is best known for his work with the rock band Dishwalla.
• Kyra Riggins: An American R&B Singer and Songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia.

Other surnames

Riggin