The Briggs surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 58,408 people carried this name — #572 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 5,050 people counted. That is up 2% from 57,297 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Briggs surname
A topographic surname from Middle English.
From the genitive or plural form of Middle English brigge (“bridge”).
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Briggs» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 17 births for the Briggs name in 1890.
Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. One of them was indexed under another spelling of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim and Down.”
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 139 people named Briggs live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 44 people named Briggs.
Most of them — 34 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Paris.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
37 people named Briggs live in Switzerland.
They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Geneva.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In the Nordic population registers
35 people named Briggs is counted in Sweden.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).
Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s
Briggs was found among the farmers of 7 counties.
It was most frequent in Nottinghamshire: 36 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 278. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.
Where it concentrates, on the mapPer 10,000 farmers, by county
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.
In Scotland’s registers today
Briggs was recorded 20 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.
That made it the 1147th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 28. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.
National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In the first U.S. census, 1790
439 families named Briggs, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.
Each family is counted by its head. About 2,507 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.
Families, by state
U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 231 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.
In print
Briggs in American newspapers,
1891–1912.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 518,490 pages in all carry the name.
In print
Briggs in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.
75,655 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Briggs. The most, 12,959, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.7 times its expected share.
Articles, by state
Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Briggs.
Who carried it
People named Briggs,
with a public archive behind them.
-
William Briggs 1642–1704 · physician -
John Briggs 1785–1875 · military officer -
John Briggs 1789–1861 · Catholic priest -
George N. Briggs 1796–1861 · judge -
Charles Frederick Briggs 1804–1877 · journalist
Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 236 lives in all are documented under this name.
In the public record
People named Briggs,
in the records of 7 countries.
Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.
United States6,198 records
- U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,874
- New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,517
- Other U.S. records 2,807
-
Example: U.S. war memorial War record Ray Allen BriggsBorn 1933; from Arlington, California. U.S. Navy, fireman; declared dead 1951 in Korea. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: U.S. registration card, 1942 Military record Joseph T. BriggsBorn 1902 in North Carolina. Enlisted 1942 at Camp Croft, South Carolina; loom fixer. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1987, buried at Raleigh National Cemetery, North Carolina.
U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Fred BriggsArrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Patricia from Cuxhaven, aged 20; cabinet maker. From Leeds, England; bound for New York.
U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
Showing 3 of 6,198 records for Briggs in the United States.
Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
Australia2,926 records
- Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,107
- Tasmanian Names Index 742
- Other Australian records 1,077
-
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Peter William BriggsTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Barossa, sailing from Downs in 1844. Native of Norwich, Norfolk. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: probate petition, 1848 Probate record Henry Neil BriggsDied 1890 in Richmond, Tasmania, aged 76. Will registered in Tasmania in 1890.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Sarah J. BriggsArrived in Victoria in 1884 aboard the Orient, aged 25.
Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 2,926 records for Briggs in Australia.
Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
Canada332 records
- Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 174
- City of Calgary cemetery records 38
- Other Canadian records 120
-
Example: civil register, 1880 Civil record Thomas BriggsKilled in the Halifax Explosion of 1917.
Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Mary BriggsCame to Ontario in 1882 aboard the Sarmatian, landing at Halifax, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; Irish.
Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. -
Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record Percy BriggsBuried in 1991 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 89.
Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
Showing 3 of 332 records for Briggs in Canada.
Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).
United Kingdom123 records
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 102
- St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 11
- Other British records 10
-
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record William BriggsDied 1892, aged 65; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.
Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. -
Example: probate petition, 1848 Probate record Margaret Chambers BriggsWill proved in 1875; of Llandudno, Caernarvon.
National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) -
Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919 War record A. E. BriggsDuke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.
National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
Showing 3 of 123 records for Briggs in the United Kingdom.
Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).
New Zealand46 records
- Christchurch City cemetery records 28
- Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 7
- Other New Zealand records 11
-
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Elizabeth BriggsDied 1939, aged 71; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Lester Webster BriggsDied 1997, aged 78; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.
Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Dora Helen BriggsBuried in 1924 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 40.
Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 46 records for Briggs in New Zealand.
Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
France10 records
-
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Gladys Felicie Margaret BriggsBorn 1910 in Great Britain; died 1995 in Rom (Deux-Sèvres).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte) -
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record James Arthur BriggsBorn 1899 in Saint Georges Grenada (Territoires britanniques dans les Antilles et Bermudes); died 1991 in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
Showing 2 of 10 records for Briggs in France.
Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).
Netherlands8 records
- Dutch population registers 4
- Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 4
-
Example: civil register, 1880 Death record Willie BriggsDied 1972 in 's-Gravenhage; born in Baildon in Groot-Brittannië; office clerk.
Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: marriage register, 1911 Marriage record James Reid BriggsMarried in 1947 in Winterswijk; doctor.
Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 8 records for Briggs in the Netherlands.
Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Briggs.
- Brier 1,813 · U.S. census
- Briere 1,245 · U.S. census
- Brierre 149 · U.S. census
- Briest 175 · U.S. census
- Briffa 108 · U.S. census
- Briganti 1,160 · U.S. census
- Brigham 6,485 · U.S. census
- Bright 33,281 · U.S. census
- Brik 123 · U.S. census
- Bril 118 · U.S. census
- Briley 5,629 · U.S. census
- Brill 9,215 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Briggs is.
A volume says what happened to it.
Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.