Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Higgin 1758 TaxS

• Hygginge chawmber 1525 WCR8

• Hegynchawmbre 1535 Stansf

• Hegyn Chamber 1561 HAS

• Higgyne Chambre 1536 Stansf 1558 HAS

• Hyginchamber, Higinchamber 1564 WillY 1568 WillY

• Heygynne chamber 1564 PRHfx

• Higgin Chamber 1709 WMB

• Nicholas Hygyn 1538 PRHfx

Etymology

Higgin, Higgin Chamber, Higgin 1758 TaxS, Hygginge chawmber 1525WCR 8, Hegynchawmbre 1535 Stansf, Hegyn Chamber 1561 HAS 14, 158, Higgyne Chambre 1536 Stansf, 1558 HAS 33, 27, Hyginchamber , Higinchamber 1564 WillY, 1568 WillY, Heygynne chamber 1564 PRHfx, Higgin Chamber 1709 WMB. There was a Sowerby family called Higgin (Nicholas Hygyn 1538 PRHfx 2, etc.), from which Higgin Lane 94supra was named. This is probably the common English surname Higgin (a diminutive of Hick , Higg ); there is said to be a La and Ch dial. word hickin , higgin 'mountain-ash' as in a lost Higginbottom (cf. Reaney 164), but the authority for this word is dubious and its origin obscure. On the use of ME  chambre 'chamber' for a dwelling cf. Forsterchambr 'ii, 148, Hallas Chamber, High Chambers ii, 219supra , Old Chamber 172, Chambre 209 infra ; this usage is not independently recorded.