Higdon
A surname of uncertain origin, probably tied to a place-name or an older personal name now obscured by time.
The #3,642 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 31,656 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is not securely explained in the older sources available here. It may be an English surname formed from a lost or altered place-name, or from an older personal name combined with a later surname ending like -don. The historical spellings in the excerpts vary enough to suggest that the name has been copied and re-copied over time, which makes the original form harder to pin down.
History
The excerpts show Higdon appearing in English records by the later Middle Ages, including Yorkshire material and later London entries. Its presence in marriage and probate-style records suggests it was established as a normal hereditary surname by the 16th and 17th centuries. The name is still found in the United States today, though it remains relatively uncommon.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older records show several spellings close to Higdon, which is common for surnames before spelling became standardized.
From the historical record
“iDbn Hikcdun, CO. Woic, 1175. A. Higdon de Sljmabf. rinun- rju, ad TalonamiliKLijM: P. T, York*, p. ijg. 164a. Joha HigdMBidJouR Dnid- ' Matrix* Lie (UmdonX if. m.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances