The clay pot that started it all
A piggy bank is called a piggy bank because of a mistake in language that stuck around for 500 years. In the 1400s and 1500s, people in England saved coins in clay jars made from a cheap, common material called pygg — a type of orange-brown clay. These jars became known as "pygg jars" or "pygg pots."
Over time, as the clay material fell out of use and people forgot what pygg actually was, the name shifted. By the 1700s, potters and manufacturers began making these savings containers in the shape of pigs as a visual pun — turning the sound of the word "pygg" into the animal "pig." The pig-shaped container became so popular that the name stuck, and today we call any small savings container a piggy bank, whether it looks like a pig or not.
The confusion happened because English speakers heard "pygg jar" and, over generations, reinterpreted it as "pig jar." This is called a reanalysis — when people mishear or misunderstand a word so consistently that the new version becomes the standard. Once manufacturers started making pig-shaped versions to match the new name, the visual reinforced the mistake, and it became permanent.
Key Takeaways
- The word "piggy bank" comes from pygg, a type of clay used to make savings jars in medieval England, not from the animal itself.
- Potters in the 1700s began making pig-shaped containers as a visual pun on the misheard word "pygg," which turned a material name into an animal name.
- The pig shape became so popular that manufacturers kept making them, cementing the pig association in people's minds.
- This is an example of how language changes when people mishear or misunderstand a word so widely that the new version becomes standard.
How the mistake happened: from material to animal
The original pygg jars were practical objects. Families and servants used them to store spare coins at home — a simple way to keep money separate from daily spending. The jars were cheap to make, sturdy, and common enough that most households could afford one. Because pygg clay was affordable and widely available, these containers were everywhere.
The problem was that the word "pygg" was not obvious to English speakers who did not work with clay. It was a technical term used by potters and craftspeople, not a household word like "pot" or "jar." When people referred to their savings container, they might say "my pygg jar" or "my pygg," but the connection to the material was already weak for ordinary users.
By the 1600s and 1700s, as the specific clay fell out of favor and new materials became available, fewer people knew what pygg actually meant. The word sounded like "pig" to English ears — especially in spoken conversation, where the difference between the two sounds is subtle. Once that mishearing took hold, it was only a matter of time before someone made the visual connection.
The pig-shaped container sealed the deal
Potters and toy makers in the 1700s recognized the opportunity. If people were already calling these jars "pig jars," why not make them look like pigs? The pig shape was charming, easy to recognize, and memorable — perfect for a children's toy or a household decoration. A pig-shaped container was also fun to use: you could drop coins in through a slot in the back or side, and the pig's belly became the storage space.
Once pig-shaped piggy banks hit the market, they became wildly popular. Families bought them for children to teach saving habits. The visual shape reinforced the animal name, making it impossible for people to remember that the original word had nothing to do with pigs. By the 1800s, pig-shaped savings containers were common enough that the term "piggy bank" had become standard in English, and the original meaning of "pygg" was nearly forgotten.
The pig design also made the container more durable and collectible. Unlike a plain clay jar, a pig-shaped bank was something people wanted to keep on display. Manufacturers began making them in different sizes, colors, and materials — ceramic, porcelain, metal, plastic — but the pig shape remained the standard. The name and the shape became inseparable.
Why this matters for how language changes
The piggy bank story is a textbook example of how language evolves through mishearing and reinterpretation. Linguists call this reanalysis or folk etymology — when a word gets a new meaning or origin story because people misunderstand it. It happens all the time in English and every other language.
What makes the piggy bank case special is that the mistake was reinforced by a physical object. Once manufacturers started making pig-shaped containers, the visual evidence seemed to prove that the word had always meant the animal. People saw a pig-shaped bank, heard the word "piggy bank," and assumed the connection was obvious and original. The shape made the false etymology feel true.
This is also why some words change meaning over time even when the original meaning is documented. If enough people use a word in a new way, and if that new way makes sense to them, the old meaning fades. The pygg jar became the piggy bank not because anyone made a conscious decision, but because the mishearing was so widespread and the visual reinforcement so strong that the new version became the only version anyone remembered.
Other savings containers and their names
Not all cultures use pig-shaped banks, and the names vary. In some countries, savings containers are called by different names based on their shape or material. The pig shape is particularly popular in English-speaking countries, but it is not universal.
In Japan, maneki-neko (the waving cat figurine) serves a similar cultural role as a symbol of good fortune and savings. In some European countries, savings boxes are simply called by their material or function — "money box," "savings tin," or "coin jar" — without an animal reference. The pig shape is a specifically English-language phenomenon tied to the accident of how the word "pygg" was misheard.
The piggy bank also became a symbol of childhood savings and financial responsibility in Western culture. Parents give piggy banks to children to teach the habit of saving coins, and the pig shape makes the lesson memorable and fun. That cultural association has kept the pig design dominant for over 200 years, even though the original reason for the pig shape — a pun on a misheard word — is now forgotten by most people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did pigs have anything to do with the original name?
No. The word "piggy bank" comes from a mishearing of "pygg," a type of clay used in medieval England. Potters in the 1700s made pig-shaped containers as a visual pun on the misheard word, but the animal was never part of the original meaning. The pig shape was added later as a joke that became permanent.
When did people start calling them piggy banks instead of pygg jars?
The shift happened gradually between the 1600s and 1800s. By the 1700s, when pig-shaped containers became popular, the term "piggy bank" was already in use. By the 1800s, it was the standard name in English, and the original "pygg jar" was almost entirely forgotten outside of historical records.
Are piggy banks still made in pig shapes today?
Yes, pig-shaped piggy banks are still common, though modern versions are made from plastic, ceramic, or metal rather than clay. The pig shape has become so iconic that it remains the default design, even though piggy banks now come in many shapes and styles. The name "piggy bank" is used for any small savings container, regardless of its actual shape.
Is this the only word in English that came from a mishearing?
No. English has many words that changed meaning or origin through mishearing or reanalysis. Examples include "hamburger" (from Hamburg, not ham), "eggplant" (from the shape, not the plant family), and "bridegroom" (from "groom" meaning man, not someone who tends horses). Language is always changing through these kinds of accidents.