Contents [hide]

Bisson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Bisson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The name Bisson is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived at Bishton in Worcestershire.

Early Origins of the Bisson family

The surname Bisson was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name, a contraction of the 12th century original Bissopeston, was first referenced in the year 1199.when William de Bissopeston held estates in Worcestershire.

Early History of the Bisson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bisson research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1221 and 1227 are included under the topic Early Bisson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bisson Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Bisson has been spelled many different ways, including Bisson, Bison, Bishopston, Bishton, Bisston and others.

Early Notables of the Bisson family

More information is included under the topic Early Bisson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bisson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bisson is the 4,293^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Bisson is ranked the 496^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,807 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Bisson is the 216^th popular surname. 3 France ranks Bisson as 1,134^th with 4,835 people. 4

Bisson migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Bissons to arrive in North America:

Bisson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gerrais Bisson, who was married in 1635 in America

Bisson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Bisson, who settled in New York in 1841

Bisson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Antoine Bisson, son of René and Marie-Madeleine, who married Élisabeth Labadie, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on 24th January 1701 5
Antoine Bisson, son of Gervais and Marie, who married Ursule Trud, daughter of Mathurin and Marguerite, in Quebec on 24th May 1671 5
Augustin-Urbain Bisson, son of Clément-Urbain and Thérese, who married Françoise Le Meilleur, daughter of Jean and Élisabeth, in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec on 6th July 1761 5
Clément-Urbain Bisson, son of Antoine and Élisabeth, who married Marie-Thérèse Boucher, daughter of François-Marie and Thérèse, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on 28th July 1734 5
François Bisson, son of Joseph and Marie-Françoise, who married Michelle Dupuis, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Saint-Constant, Quebec on 7th January 1762 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bisson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Antoine Bisson, married in Duquet in 1671

Bisson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elie Bisson was a member of parliament in 1891 in Beauharnois, Quebec

Bisson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bisson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Bisson, aged 48, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 6
Priscilla Bisson, aged 23, a laundress, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 7
Rachel Bisson, aged 58, a laundress, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 7

Bisson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bisson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Philip Bisson, aged 28, a shoemaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Esther Bisson, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Philip Bisson, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Adolphus Bisson, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Louisa Bisson, aged 5 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bisson (post 1700) +

Terry Ballantine Bisson (1942-2024), American science fiction and fantasy author
Terry Ballantine Bisson (b. 1942), American science fiction and fantasy author
Claude Bisson (b. 1931), Canadian Judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal, and Communications Security Establishment Commissioner, made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998
Baptiste Pierre François Jean Gaspard Bisson, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Christopher Paul Bisson (b. 1975), British actor
Alexandre Charles Auguste Bisson (1848-1912), French playwright, and novelist

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) Baptiste Bisson. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html