This surname is derived from a nickname. or offic.

Roger le Bygod. Hundred Rolls.

Alina le Bigod. Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi.

William le Bygot. Hundred Rolls.

John le Bygot. Writs of Parliament.

Gundred la Bygote, Close Roll, 5 Edward I.

Three of these entries are of the 13th century. For the controversy on these terms, Bigod and Bigot, see Skeat's and Wedgwood's Dictionaries; also reply to Skeat by Wedgwood in the Academy, Aug. 9, 1879; see also Freeman's Norman Conq. ii. 288. That the derisive term 'bigod' arose from the oath 'by God' seems probable. 'Pardew' (i.e. 'par Dieu') is a still existent surname with a similar origin. That it was transferred to some religious order seems equally certain (v. Wedgwood), and that through them it became a term to express religious devoteeism seems almost clear.

1750. Married — John Bigott and Grace Williams: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

"When Rollo had Normandy made over to him by Carolus Stultus, with his daughter Gisla, he would not submit to kiss Charles's foot. And when his friends urged him by all means to kiss the king's foot, in gratitude for so great a favour, he made answer in the English tongue, Ne se by God; that is, Not so by God. Upon which the king and his courtiers deriding him, and corruptly repeating his answer, called him Bigod; from whence the Normans are to this day termed Bigodi." Camd. Britannia, Ed. 1722, Vol i. p. ccix. It was said of that people that at every other word they would swear "By God," and thus Bigod, (whence our word bigot,) became synonymous with Norman. The equivalent French oath 1 Par Dieu,' has in like manner become an English surname. See Pardew.

BIGOD, BIGOT: "When Rollo had Normandy made over to him by Carolus Stultus, with his daughter Gisla, he would not submit to kiss Charles's foot. And when his friends urged him by all means to kiss the king's foot, in gratitude for so great a favour, he made answer in the English tongue, Ne se by God; that is, Not so by God. Upon which the king and his courtiers deriding him, and corruptly repeating his answer, called him Bigod; from whence the Normans are to this day termed Bigodi." Camd. Britannia, Ed. 1722, Vol i. p. ccix. It was said of that people that at every other word they would swear "By God," and thus Bigod, (whence our word bigot,) became synonymous with Norman. The equivalent French oath 1 Par Dieu,' has in like manner become an English surname. See Pardew.

A name given by the French to the Normans, because, as Camden says, "At every other word they would swear 'By God,'„ from which they were termed Bigodi. It became the surname of Roger de Montgomery, one of the followers of William the Conqueror, who was called Roger Bigod. The English word bigot has probably the same origin.