The ancestors of the Pigate family arrived in England
following the Norman Conquest
of 1066. The name Pigate came from the Old English given name Picot
The surname Pigate was originally derived from the Old English word pic,
meaning a hill with a sharp point at its top,
and would originally have indicated that its bearer lived near such a landmark.
Early Origins of the Pigate family
The surname Pigate was first found in Cheshire
where Picot of Cambridge (c.1022–1090), born in Saye, Normandy
, was a Norman landowner and rose to become Sheriff of Cambridgeshire (c.
1071-1090.) His son Robert, became implicated in a conspiracy against King Henry I, fled the country and the family estates were forfeit. Another reference claims "the family originally came from Cheshire; William Pigott of Butley in the parish of Prestbury in that county, who died in 1376, was grandfather of Richard Pigott of Butley who married the heiress of Peshall." CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Early History of the Pigate family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pigate research.Another 208 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1333, 1645, 1697, 1720, 1713, 1734, 1630, 1657, 1686, 1719, 1777, 1720, 1796, 1640 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Pigate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Pigate Spelling Variations
Multitudes of spelling variations
are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans
introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Pigott, Piggot, Piggett, Piggott, Piggot, Pigot, Picot and many more.
Early Notables of the Pigate family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Pigot (Pigott, Piggott) (1657-1686), an English cleric, academic and Fellow of the Royal Society; George Pigot, 1st Baron
Pigot (1719-1777), former... Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pigate Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Pigate family to Ireland
Some of the Pigate family moved to Ireland
, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Pigate family to the New World and Oceana
Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland
, North America, and Australia
in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England
. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Pigate or a variant listed above: William Piggett who settled in Virginia in 1654; John Piggot settled in Virginia in 1654; Alexander Piggot settled in Barbados in 1745; William and Walter Piggott settled in Virginia in 1635.
The Pigate 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: Tout foys prest
Motto Translation: Always ready.
Pigate Family Crest Products
- ^ Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.