Surname Diggins - Meaning and Origin
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Diggins: What does the surname Diggins mean?
The last name Diggins is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic term "O Dubhagain," which means "black" or "dark." The name could have possibly been used to refer to individuals with dark hair or a dark complexion. This surname is a form of the name Duggan, often found among families of County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. Over time, this surname has transformed due to its pronunciation in different regions and cultures, resulting in various spellings like Duggan, Dougan, Doogan, and Diggins. Despite these variations, they all carry the same root meaning. Some noteworthy individuals with this surname include Skylar Diggins-Smith, a professional basketball player, and Jim Diggins, a noted Irish author.
Order DNA origin analysisDiggins: Where does the name Diggins come from?
The surname Diggins is of Anglo-Saxon origin from Britain. It is a patronymic form of Diggin, a medieval personal name which itself is a diminutive of Digge, related to the Old English pre-7th-century 'dicg', meaning 'ditch'. This name could be used as a nickname for someone who lived near a ditch or perhaps worked as a ditcher. This last name is not particularly common, but in the modern world, it is predominantly found in English-speaking countries like Australia, the U.S., England, and Ireland. In the United States, the name is somewhat prevalent in the states of Massachusetts and Kentucky. Among notable persons with this last name is the American basketball player Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Variations of the surname Diggins
The surname Diggins originates from the medieval English given name Dodge, short for Roger. Through time, it evolved into various versions, and sometimes, surnames were created based on the residential location, occupation, or nickname of the person. Other versions of Diggins are Diggin, Digging, Diggen, Diggens, and Digins.
There are also alterations based on regional accents and illiteracy in earlier times, as many people couldn't write their names and authorities recorded them phonetically. These versions include Dagan, Deegan, Deagan, Deakin, Deakins, and Diggons.
The surname can further change based on marriages, individual preferences, or to differentiate from others with the same surname, leading to double-barrel names like Diggins-Smith or Diggins-Jones.
Culturally related surnames could include Irish variations like O'Dea or Scottish versions like Dickson, derived from Dick, a diminutive of Richard, another name similar to Dodge.
Extending the lineage towards a possible French origin, the surname could also connect to Dagenais, Dagenet, and Dagonet, which came from a nickname for someone from the town of Agen in the Lot-et-Garonne region of France.
Famous people with the name Diggins
- Skylar Diggins-Smith: Known as Skylar Diggins before her marriage, she's a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She's a multiple-time WNBA All-Star and has also played for the Dallas Wings and Tulsa Shock.
- Jessie Diggins: Jessie Diggins is a professional cross-country skier from the United States. She gained international fame in the Winter Olympics of 2018 when she, along with teammate Kikkan Randall, won the gold medal in women's team sprint. It was the first ever cross-country skiing gold for the United States.
- Phoebe Diggins: Phoebe Diggins, known as Flyin' Phoebe, was a legendary figure in American rodeo history. As a trick rider and roper, she was one of few African-American women to achieve fame in the early 20th-century rodeo circuit.
- Taffy Abel: Born Clarence John "Taffy" Abel, he was a professional ice hockey player in the NHL, and also played for the United States in the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Taffy’s mother was a member of the Ojibwe tribe, her maiden name being Mary Charlotte Diggins.
- Stephen Diggins: A renaissance man of sorts, Stephen Diggins is known as an actor, producer, and director. He is famous for his work on Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020), Lost in Space (2018) and VeggieTales (1993).