Bygott

This very unusual and interesting name is found recorded in the spellings of Bigot, Biggott, and Bygott. The popular view is that the origin is Norman-French, and a development of the French 'bigot'. It would seem that the 12th century interpretation of this word was quite different to its later fifteenth century meaning of a religious maniac. Originally the meaning was simply a person with fixed views, and as such it would have been a nickname. However it seems much more likely that in England at least the surname developed from the habitual use of the oath "by God". There are several examples of similar origins, the most popular being 'Purdy or Pardew, from the French "par Dieu", which curiously means - 'by god'!. Examples of the surname recording include Roger Le Bygod in the 1273 pipe rolls of London, whilst a later example is John Bygott who married Grace Williams at St. George's Chapel, Mayfair, London in 1750. he coat of arms was granted in Yorkshire, the blazon being a gold field, charged with five silver scallops on a red cross, and the crest of a chapeau in silver. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Bygot. which was dated 1273, The Hundred Rolls, Essex. during the reign of King Edward I, The Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. 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.