Higgins (surname)
Higgins is a surname found in England and in Ireland, with several origins.
In England, the name originates from:
- the name Hugh
- the name Hig
- Hicke, a diminutive of Richard
In Ireland, the name is the Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Ó hUiginn, 'descendant of Uiginn'. Although there is another variation which is also an Irish surname McHiggins. Uiginn being the Gaelic version of the Old Norse víkingr or Viking.
In business
- Andrew Higgins, founder of Higgins Industries and inventor of the Higgins boat
- Pattillo Higgins, American oil pioneer and businessman, known as the "Prophet of Spindletop"
- Daniel Higgins, carpenter and businessman, owner of Dan Higgins Wood Flooring.
In education and science
- Aparna Higgins, Indian-American mathematician
- Charles Hayes Higgins, British surgeon and medical author
- Chris Higgins, British geneticist, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University
- Colleen Higgins, plant pathologist in New Zealand
- Donald Higgins, Canadian academic
- E. Tory Higgins, American psychologist
- Henry Higgins (botanist), English botanist
- Julian Higgins, British statistician
- Lionel George Higgins, British obstetrician and lepidopterist
- Michael W. Higgins, Canadian academic and writer
- Reynold Higgins, English archaeologist
- Tony Higgins, English university executive
- William Higgins, Irish chemist
- William Victor Higgins, American painter and teacher
In literature
- Aidan Higgins,, Irish writer
- Beda Higgins, British poet and writer
- Fiona Higgins, Irish writer
- George V. Higgins, American attorney and author
- Jack Higgins, pseudonym of British novelist Harry Patterson
- Marguerite Higgins, American journalist and war correspondent
- Michael D. Higgins,, Irish poet and president
- Rita Ann Higgins, Irish poet and playwright
- Ryan T. Higgins, American children's book author
In military service
- Jack Higgins (RAF officer), Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force commander
- Thomas J. Higgins, American soldier
- William R. Higgins, United States Marine Corps colonel, killed in Lebanon
In music
- Bertie Higgins, American singer-songwriter
- Billy Higgins, American jazz drummer
- Chris Higgins, also known as "X-13", former The Offspring touring member
- Damian Higgins, drum and bass DJ and producer
- Dick Higgins, American composer, poet and Fluxus artist
- Eddie Higgins, American jazz pianist, composer and orchestrator
- Jarad Higgins, American rapper known as Juice WRLD
- Jon B. Higgins, American Carnatic singer
- Missy Higgins, Australian singer
- The Higgins, Canadian band
In politics
- Brian Higgins, U.S. Representative from New York
- Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative from Louisiana
- Clement Higgins, British MP from Norfolk
- Frank W. Higgins, Governor of New York
- Geary Higgins, American politician from Virginia
- H. B. Higgins, Australian politician and judge
- Jennifer B. Higgins, American government official
- Jim Higgins (British politician), British socialist
- Joe Higgins (politician), Socialist Party MEP for Dublin; ex-TD
- John Patrick Higgins, former U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
- Joseph T. Higgins, American politician from New York
- Michael D. Higgins, Irish politician, poet, broadcaster and sociologist, President of Ireland
- Peg Higgins, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
- Pete B. Higgins, member of the Alaska House of Representatives
- Terence Higgins, Baron Higgins, British politician and athlete
- William L. Higgins, U.S. Representative from Connecticut
In sports
- Alex Higgins, Northern Irish snooker player
- Andrew Higgins, English rugby union footballer
- Andy Higgins, English football player
- Andy Higgins, Australian association football player
- Arthur Higgins, rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s
- Chris Higgins, American hockey player
- David Higgins, Irish golfer
- Dudley Higgins, Irish rugby union player
- Dylan Higgins, Zimbabwean cricketer
- Elijah Higgins, American football player
- Emma Higgins (footballer), Northern Irish association footballer
- Garin Higgins, American football coach
- Harry Higgins, English cricketer
- Henry Higgins, English bullfighter
- Jack Higgins, rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s
- Jay Higgins, American football player
- Jayden Higgins, American football player
- Jim Higgins, Scottish boxer of the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s
- John Higgins, Scottish snooker player
- Johnnie Lee Higgins, free agent wide receiver in the NFL
- Luke Higgins, American football player
- Mark Higgins, British rally car driver
- Pinky Higgins, American baseball player, manager, and scout
- P. J. Higgins, American baseball player
- Rashard Higgins, American football wide receiver
- Ron Higgins, English footballer
- Roy Higgins, Australian jockey
- Ruaidhrí Higgins, Northern Irish football player and manager
- Shaun Higgins, Australian rules footballer
- Tee Higgins, American football wide receiver
- Tyler Higgins, American baseball player
In television and film
- Clare Higgins, English actress
- John Michael Higgins, American actor and comedian
- Kate Higgins, American voice actress, singer, and jazz pianist
- Kenneth Higgins, British cinematographer
- Maura Higgins, Irish television personality
- Naomi Higgins, Australian writer and comedian
- Paul Higgins, British actor
- Steve Higgins, American comedian, writer and announcer
- William Higgins, American director of gay pornographic films
Other professions
- Arch Higgins, New York City Ballet soloist
- Bertha G. Higgins, American suffragist, civil rights activist and clubwoman
- Chester Higgins, Jr., American photographer
- Edward Higgins, British Salvationist, 3rd General of the Salvation Army
- Eoin Higgins, High Court of Northern Ireland jurist
- George Frank Higgins, American painter from Massachusetts
- Godfrey Higgins, English writer on mythology
- Dame Joan Higgins, British academic and health service manager
- Margaret Higgins, Scottish murderer
- Rosalyn Higgins, British lawyer and legal scholar, President of the International Court of Justice
Fictional characters
- Bubba Higgins, on the American TV sitcom Mama's Family, played by Allan Kayser
- Henry Higgins, in the play Pygmalion and the derivative musical stage play and later movie, My Fair Lady
- Jonathan Higgins, on the American TV series Magnum, P.I., played by John Hillerman
- *Juliet Higgins, female version of the same character, on the 2018 reboot