Show ContentsBlesse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Blesse is derived from the Middle English word "iblescede", which roughly means "to make sacred," in the sense "happy, fortunate." From 1300 onwards the word occurs as blisced, blissed, a form surviving, no doubt in Blissett, which may also derive from a woman’s name: Blissot atte Pole which appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. [1]

Early Origins of the Blesse family

The surname Blesse was first found in Oxfordshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hugh de Blesset as hold lands there at that time. The same source lists the forename Bissot. [2]

Later in Cornwall, we found Alicia Iblessed in 1297 and in Staffordshire, we found John de Blessed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. [1]

Early History of the Blesse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blesse research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1752 is included under the topic Early Blesse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blesse Spelling Variations

Blesse has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Blessed, Blisset, Blissit, Blizard, Blizzard, Blissett and many more.

Early Notables of the Blesse family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Blesset of Oxford


United States Blesse migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Blesses to arrive on North American shores:

Blesse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Blesse, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 [3]
Blesse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Wilheln Blesse, aged 20, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1845 [3]
  • Carl Blesse, who settled in New Orleans in 1845
  • Carl Blesse, aged 20, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1845 [3]
  • Thomas Blesse, who settled in Baltimore in 1854

Contemporary Notables of the name Blesse (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier-General Frederick Arthur Blesse (1888-1954), American Chief Surgeon, Army Field Forces (1948) [4]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Frederick Blesse. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Blesse/Frederick_Arthur/USA.html


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