This interesting name is one of the many varient spellings which derive from the original, Norse-Viking "Nig" and means "Parsimonious". It is probably a metonymic for a "Maker of Fire Grates", one which was extremley economical in use, but may also be a nickname for a miser, one given to being of less than generous nature. The name development has included John Nigards (1638), Roger Neger (1648), William Negor (1644), and Mary Nergent (1681). The name is also recorded in the French as Nergaz, which has possible Huguenot associations in England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Niger. which was dated 1576, Married Jane Arnolde at St. James, Clerkenwell. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.