Show ContentsBrigden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Brigden

What does the name Brigden mean?

The name Brigden is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the township of Brogden, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place-name appears originally as Brokden, which means valley of the brook. The surname, then, meant dweller in the valley of the brook. 1

Early Origins of the Brigden family

The surname Brigden was first found in Yorkshire, where Dionisius Brokden was listed as a Freeman of York in 1470. Later, William a Borkeden was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525 and John Brogden was another Freeman of York in 1597. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include Cristiana de Boroghden as holding lands there at that time. Much later, the Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society) included an entry for William Brockden, Yorkshire. 3

Early History of the Brigden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brigden research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1470, 1525, 1579, 1597, 1680, 1687, 1689, 1741 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Brigden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brigden Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Brigden were recorded, including Brogden, Boroghden, Brokden, Brokeden, Brogdon, Brockden and many more.

Early Notables of the Brigden family

More information is included under the topic Early Brigden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Brigden migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Brigden family emigrate to North America:

Brigden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mrs. Brigden, with 2 children not named, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules" with husband Thomas bound for Charlestown 4
  • Thomas Brigden, from Faversham, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules", bound for Charlestown 4
  • Zechariah Brigden, who landed in New England in 1657 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Brigden (post 1700) +

  • Susan Brigden FRHistS, FBA (b. 1951), English historian and academic specialising in the English Renaissance and Reformation, Reader in Early Modern History at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Lincoln College, awarded the Wolfson History Prize in 2013 for her book Thomas Wyatt: The Heart's Forest, Fellow of the British Academy in 2014
  • William "Bill" Brigden (1916-2005), Canadian sprint canoer in the K-2 10000 m event at the 1952 Summer Olympics
  • James Bristock "Jim" Brigden (1887-1950), Australian public servant, Secretary of the Department of Social Services (1939-1941), Secretary of the Department of Supply and Development (1939-1941), Secretary of the Department of Munitions (1940-1941)
  • Bob Brigden, Canadian politician, councillor in the Rural Municipality of Brenda in 1998
  • Scott Brigden, Canadian political candidate representing Brandon East in the 2003 Manitoba provincial election

HMS Royal Oak
  • William S. Brigden, British Sick Berth Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 5


The Brigden Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Constans et fidelis
Motto Translation: Steady and faithful.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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