Recorded in the spellings of Bickmore and Bigmore, this is an English locational surname, and probably of post medieval origins. It derives either from a "lost" place or region, of which we can find no trace, or possibly it is a dialectal transposition of an existing place name such as Bignor in Sussex, or even Bignold, in Staffordshire. Over five thousand British surnames are believed to originate from lost medieval villages or sites, of which the only surviving memory is often the surname. Equally many names had local dialectal pronunciations, which were then "converted" into surnames, an example being Bruminger for Birmingham.
This type of corrupted spelling is particularly relevant with locational names, and more so where the original name holder(s) moved some considerable distance. We believe that this surname derives from pre 8th century Norse-Viking word 'byggja' - meaning a building, and 'mor", a watery area, possibly a lake or mere. Examples of the surname recording include John Bickmore, at All Hallows church, Staining, London, on November 8th 1699, and Thomas Bignall, at St. Mary's Church, Cornhill, on March 1st 1726. The first church recording that we have been able to find, is that of Constance Bigmore, who married George Holyoake at the church of St Giles, Cripplegate, London, on September 8th 1599. This was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, 1558 - 1603. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname bickmore is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of bickmore. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname bickmore is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
It is common for surnames like bickmore to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname bickmore provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical journey of the surname bickmore can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of bickmore. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname bickmore, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of bickmore developed.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname bickmore, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about bickmore and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all bickmores who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname bickmore were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname bickmore who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname bickmore. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of bickmore are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bickmore, and at the same time, of surnames in general.