Pigeon

Pigeon
This unusual name has two possible derivations, both of early medieval English origin, from Old French terms introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Firstly, the name Pi(d)geon may be a metonymic occupational surname for someone who hunted wood pigeons, or a nickname for a person thought to be particularly gullible, "easily taken", like the bird, derived from the Middle English "pigeon", from the Old French "pipjon, pijon", young bird, pigeon. Secondly, the surname may have developed from a medieval nickname, "Pet(y)ion", Little John, from the Middle English "pety", small, a development of the Old French "petit", with the given name John, from the Hebrew name "Yochanan", "Jehovah has favoured (me with a son)" or "may Jehovah favour (this child)". An early example of the name from the former source is that of Ralf Pyjun, in the Assize Rolls of Somerset of 1268, while examples from the latter include Relicta Pygon, 1296; and Relicta Pijohan, John Petijohan, and Thomas Pyion, all recorded in Sussex in 1327. Modern variants of the surname include Pi(d)geon, Pidgen, Pid(e)on, Pidgon, and Piggin. William, son of Giles Pidgeon, was christened on July 18th 1635, at Badsey, Worcestershire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Pigun, which was dated 1200, in the "Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • pigeon — [ piʒɔ̃ ] n. m. • 1530; pijon XIIIe; bas lat. pipio, onis « pigeonneau » 1 ♦ Oiseau au bec grêle, aux ailes courtes (columbiformes), de couleur très variée selon les espèces (⇒ biset, colombe, 1. colombin, palombe, ramier, tourterelle); spécialt… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pigeon — Pi geon, n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. {Peep} to chirp.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any bird of the order Columb[ae], of which numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world. [1913 Webster] Note …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pigeon — PIGEON. s. m. Sorte d oiseau domestique, qui vole ordinairement par bande à la campagne. Pigeon de colombier. pigeon de voliere. pigeon privé. pigeon patu. pigeon à la grosse gorge. pigeon masle. pigeon femelle. nourrir des pigeons. eslever des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Pigeon — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Pigeon (Michigan) Pigeon (Pennsylvania) Pigeon (Wisconsin) Pigeon ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Amédée Pigeon (1851–1905), französischer Journalist, Kunstkritiker und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • pigeon — Pigeon, Il vient de Pipio, par mutation du second p. en g. Pigeon ou coulon, Columbus. De Pipio, ostez le second p. il reste Piio, et de là Pijon. Pigeon ramier, Palumbes, vel Palumbus. Pigeon ramier qui a un colier, Palumbus torquatus. Oeuf de… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • pigeon — pigeon1 [pij′ən] n. pl. pigeons or pigeon [ME pejon < MFr pijon < LL pipio (gen. pipionis), chirping bird, squab < L pipire, to chirp, of echoic orig.] 1. any of a family (Columbidae, order Columbiformes) of birds with a small head,… …   English World dictionary

  • Pigeon — Pigeon, MI U.S. village in Michigan Population (2000): 1207 Housing Units (2000): 518 Land area (2000): 0.824359 sq. miles (2.135079 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.824359 sq. miles (2.135079… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Pigeon, MI — U.S. village in Michigan Population (2000): 1207 Housing Units (2000): 518 Land area (2000): 0.824359 sq. miles (2.135079 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.824359 sq. miles (2.135079 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Pigeon — Nom présent un peu partout en France, mais surtout dans l Ille et Vilaine. C est un surnom lié à l oiseau (latin pipionem), difficile à interpréter. On peut certes le considérer comme un sobriquet péjoratif (= personnage naïf, crédule), mais ce… …   Noms de famille

  • pigeon — (n.) early 13c., from O.Fr. pijon young dove, probably from V.L. *pibionem, dissimilation from L.L. pipionem squab, young chirping bird (3c.), accusative of L. pipio chirping bird, from pipire to peep, chirp, of imitative origin. Modern spelling… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Pigeon — Pi geon, v. t. To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in gambling. [Slang] Smart. [1913 Webster] He s pigeoned and undone. Observer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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