The name comes from a clay pot that looked like a pig, not from the animal itself
A piggy bank is called that because of a misunderstanding about pottery, not because pigs are good with money. In the Middle Ages, people in Europe stored their coins and valuables in earthenware jars made from a cheap, common clay called pygg. These jars were straightforward called "pygg pots" or "pygg banks" — the name of the material, not the shape.
Somewhere between the 1600s and 1700s, English potters began making these coin containers in the shape of actual pigs as a joke or novelty. The name "pygg bank" was already in use for the clay pots, so when people saw a pig-shaped container, they heard "piggy bank" and the name stuck. The shape became so popular that it eventually replaced the original meaning entirely. Today, we call any pig-shaped coin container a piggy bank, even though the original name had nothing to do with the animal.
Key Takeaways
- The word "piggy" comes from pygg, a type of cheap medieval clay used to make storage jars, not from the animal.
- English potters in the 1600s and 1700s began making these jars in pig shapes as a novelty, and the pig shape became the standard.
- The name "pygg bank" was already common for clay coin containers, so the pig-shaped version inherited the name and people heard it as "piggy."
- The pig shape became so associated with coin storage that the original meaning of the name was forgotten, and "piggy bank" is now the standard term worldwide.
How pygg clay became a household word for coin storage
In medieval and early modern Europe, most households needed a safe place to keep coins and small valuables. Pottery was affordable and available, so potters made straightforward earthenware jars for this purpose. The clay used most often was called pygg, which was common in England and other parts of northern Europe. People began calling these storage jars "pygg pots" or "pygg banks" straightforward because that was the material they were made from.
The name was practical and descriptive — it told you what the container was made of and what it was for. A pygg bank was a bank made of pygg. The shape was usually round and bulbous, with a narrow opening at the top where you could drop coins in. Some had a cork or wooden stopper; others had a small slot cut into the top. The shape itself had no particular reason — it was just the easiest way to throw a pot on a wheel and make something sturdy enough to hold coins.
Why potters started making pig-shaped containers
By the 1600s, the term "pygg bank" was well established in English households. Potters, always looking for ways to make their work stand out, began experimenting with novelty shapes. A pig-shaped container was a natural choice — pigs were common farm animals that everyone recognized, and the round body of a pig resembled the shape of the traditional pygg pot anyway. The pig shape was also memorable and amusing, which made it more appealing to customers than a plain round jar.
The pig-shaped versions became popular quickly, especially among wealthier households that could afford decorative items. Potters in England and later in other countries began producing pig-shaped banks in large numbers. The name "pygg bank" was already in use and well understood, so the pig-shaped version straightforward inherited the name. Over time, the pig shape became so common that people forgot the original meaning of "pygg" and assumed the container was called a piggy bank because it was shaped like a pig.
How the name spread and changed meaning
As pig-shaped banks became more popular and more widely produced, the original etymology was lost. By the 1700s and 1800s, most people who used or saw a piggy bank had no idea that "pygg" referred to a type of clay. They straightforward saw a pig-shaped container and heard the name "piggy bank," and the connection seemed obvious — it was a bank shaped like a pig, so it must be called a piggy bank because of the pig.
This kind of language shift happens often when the original meaning of a word becomes obscure. The name stuck because it made sense to people even though it was based on a misunderstanding. By the time potters in other countries began making pig-shaped banks, the pig shape and the name "piggy bank" were already linked in the public mind. The term spread to America, Asia, and other parts of the world, and today a pig-shaped coin container is called a piggy bank in English-speaking countries everywhere.
What piggy banks tell us about how we store money at home
Piggy banks represent one of the oldest forms of personal money storage — a physical container that you control, that sits in your home, and that you can access whenever you need to. Before banks existed as institutions, this was how most people kept their coins safe. A piggy bank was not just a toy or a decoration; it was a practical tool for saving and protecting money.
The pig shape became so iconic that it outlasted the practical need for it. Today, piggy banks are mostly used to teach children about saving money, not as a serious storage method for adults. But the concept remains the same: a dedicated container for coins, kept separate from everyday spending money. Modern savings accounts and digital wallets have replaced the physical piggy bank for most people, but the image of the pig-shaped bank is still the universal symbol for saving and storing money.
Piggy banks in different cultures and languages
The pig-shaped bank is primarily a European and North American tradition. In other parts of the world, coin containers have different names and sometimes different shapes. In some Asian countries, lucky cat figurines (called maneki-neko) serve a similar purpose as piggy banks — decorative containers for coins that also symbolize good fortune and prosperity.
The English name "piggy bank" did not translate directly into other languages. In French, a coin container is called a tirelire, which comes from an old word meaning "to shoot" or "to throw" — referring to the action of dropping coins in. In German, it is called a Spardose, which straightforward means "savings box." These names describe the function rather than the shape, which shows how the pig-shaped bank was a specifically English and later American phenomenon that spread outward from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pig shape actually important to how a piggy bank works?
No. A piggy bank works the same way whether it is shaped like a pig, a cat, a house, or a plain box. The shape is purely decorative and traditional. The only functional requirement is that it has an opening to drop coins in and a way to get them out — either a slot at the top, a removable bottom, or a cork stopper.
When did people start calling them piggy banks instead of pygg banks?
The shift happened gradually between the 1600s and 1800s as pig-shaped containers became more common and the original meaning of "pygg" was forgotten. By the Victorian era, "piggy bank" was the standard term in English. The exact date is hard to pin down because the change happened in everyday speech before it appeared consistently in written records.
Are piggy banks still used for saving money?
Piggy banks are still made and sold, but they are now primarily used to teach children about saving rather than as a serious storage method for adults. Digital banking and savings accounts have replaced the physical piggy bank for most household money storage. Some people still use them for spare change or as decorative objects.
Why did the pig shape become so popular if it was just a joke?
The pig shape was memorable, appealing, and straightforward to recognize. It also made the container more attractive and fun than a plain round pot, which helped potters sell more of them. Once the pig shape became common, it became the expected design, and customers wanted pig-shaped banks because that is what they were used to seeing.
Do other countries have different names for pig-shaped coin containers?
Yes. In France, a coin container is called a tirelire. In Germany, it is a Spardose. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is often called an alcancía. These names describe the function or have different historical origins, and the pig shape is not as universal outside English-speaking countries.