Blisset History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Blisset 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 Blisset family

The surname Blisset 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 Blisset family

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

Blisset Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Blisset has been recorded under many different variations, including Blessed, Blisset, Blissit, Blizard, Blizzard, Blissett and many more.

Early Notables of the Blisset family

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

Migration of the Blisset family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Blisset or a variant listed above: James Blesse, who settled in Virginia in 1637; Thomas Blessed, who came to Maryland in 1670; John Blizard, who came to Virginia in 1767; Joseph Blizard, who came to America in 1767.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)