Surname

BIGNALL and BAGNALL

It seems that Bignall and Bagnall are Surname that have developed over the centuries that have no definitive source, unlike names from occupations or from places.

In the respected book by P.H. Reaney, "The Origin of English Surnames", he writes the following;

Four modern surnames derived from BAGNALL (Staffordshire - Bagnall, Bagenal, Bagnell, Bagnold, - 3 alternates in the name of Ralph Bagnall, Bagnold, Bagenall, alias Bagnald [1561-Calender of Patent Rolls].

At times, these variations provide problems. The surname Bicknell, Bignall, Bignell and Bignold show the same variation in the second element as in Bagnall etc., but whereas this was originally - holt "wood" [William de Bagenholt -1299-Assize Roll - Staffordshire] - in Bicknell etc., it varies between -hill and hall - whilst the first element also varies between Bik- and Big- and the surname derives from 3 different places.

Thomas de Bikenhull [1214 - Curia Regis Rolls - Warwickshire] which is found as Bigenhull in 1354 and was pronounced Bignell.

William de Bigenhull [1279 - Rotuli Hundredorum - Oxfordshire] - must have come from Bignell House in Bicester, Oxfordshire which occurs as Bigenhull in 1220, Bickenhulle in 1285 and Bygenhall about 1377, whilst the surname is also found as de Bigehille in 1247.

There is also a place Bickenhall in Somerset, - Bichehalle 1086 and Bikehilla 1186, which gave rise to the surname of John de Bikenhull in 1327 [Subsidy Rolls - Somerset].

Other variations are William Bignolle, John Bynold, [1525 - Subsidy Rolls - Sussex] and Robert Bignall, [1758 - Freeman of York]

In Conclusion Reaney wrote" It is obviously impossible to decide from which of these places the modern surnames derive without tracing back the history of the family until some definite proof is found, especially as these forms are often late and found far from Oxfordshire, Somerset or Warwickshire."

From another book by P. H. Reaney, "A Dictionary of British Surnames" he records some of the early references to the above Surnames.

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BIGNAL, BIGNALL, BIGNELL, BIGNOLD

William de Bigenhull, 1279 - Rotuli Hundredorum, Oxfordshire,(2 vol, London, 1812-18)

William Bignolle, John Bygnold, 1525 - Subsidy Rolls, Sussex (Sussex Rec. Soc. 10,56 - 1910-1956)

Thomas Bignell, 1727 - Bardsley

Robert Bignall, 1758 - Register of the Freemen of the City of York, (Surtess Soc. 96,102 - 1897-9)

Bignell in Bicester (Oxon) - Register of the University of Oxford - (Oxford Hist. Soc. 1,10-12,14 - 1885-9)

Bigenhull 1220

Bikenhulle 1285

"Without early forms it is impossible to derive Bignal and Bicknell with any certainty"

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BIGNAL, BIGNALL, BIGNELL, BIGNOLD

Thomas de Bikehulle 1214 - Curia Regis Rolls, Warwickshire - (Pipe Roll Soc. 14, 1891)

John de Bikenhull, Walter Bykenhulle 1327 - Somerset (Subsidy Rolls - Somerset Rec. Soc. 3, 1889)

Nicholas Bicknell 1642 Deven - (Protestation Returns for Devon)

Without early forms it is impossible to derive Bickenhall (Somerset) or Bickenhill (Warwickshire) with any certainty

At the Society of Genealogist there is a collection of Bagnall research papers that contain the following events:

1270-1

Wm. De Bagenholt & John de Verdum - Bagenholt/Court of Assize - Pat 55 III )m.6d)

1269-70

Wm Bagenald v. Wm le Provost de Baeginale - Bagenall / Court of Assize) - Pat 54 Hen III (m 9d)

1334

Staff - Thom de Bagenholt to there def [?] - / Coram, Rye, 8 Ed III, Trin (m. 57d)

1346/7

Staff - John Burgylon v. Berbred [?] de Bagenald and Robert his son, Adam dec Halle de Buckenale and Berbred his son, Thomas fil. Henry de vbbilegh and John Layon - assault at Newastle under Lyme / Coram Rye, 21 Ed III , Hil (m73)

1421

On petition of Hugh Morehall, Roger, Nicholas, and John Bagenald, all of Oncote yeoman, summoned to answer in the Kings Bench, Oct. Pur. b v. m for a trepass at Omcote on Monday after the Nat. b. v. M. Hen V (11 Sep 1419) / Rolls of Parlt. Vol IV, p 164^b (9 Hen V n^oVol 3)

In a study and published by Sir William Addison, called "Understanding English Surnames", he gave an analysis of the "Topographical list Peculiarly Local Surnames"

Devonshire	- BUCKNELL
Dorset	- BRICKNELL
Somerset	- BICKNELL - BIGNELL - BIGNOLD
Staffordshire	- BAGNALL - BAGNELL - BIGNOLD

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David Bignall, Guild on One Name Studies No. 2702
Copyright © 2000 [Denbigh Enterprises]. All rights reserved. All trademarks or product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
Revised: January 29, 2000 .

1270-1	Wm. De Bagenholt & John de Verdum - Bagenholt/Court of Assize - Pat 55 III )m.6d)
1269-70	Wm Bagenald v. Wm le Provost de Baeginale - Bagenall / Court of Assize) - Pat 54 Hen III (m 9d)
1334	Staff - Thom de Bagenholt to there def [?] - / Coram, Rye, 8 Ed III, Trin (m. 57d)
1346/7	Staff - John Burgylon v. Berbred [?] de Bagenald and Robert his son, Adam dec Halle de Buckenale and Berbred his son, Thomas fil. Henry de vbbilegh and John Layon - assault at Newastle under Lyme / Coram Rye, 21 Ed III , Hil (m73)
1421	On petition of Hugh Morehall, Roger, Nicholas, and John Bagenald, all of Oncote yeoman, summoned to answer in the Kings Bench, Oct. Pur. b v. m for a trepass at Omcote on Monday after the Nat. b. v. M. Hen V (11 Sep 1419) / Rolls of Parlt. Vol IV, p 164^b (9 Hen V n^oVol 3)