Show ContentsTyssend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Tyssend is a name whose history begins in 1066 with the Norman Conquest of England. This Norman name was used for a fiesty or hot-tempered person. The name is a metaphor derived from the Old French word tison meaning fire-brand.

Alternatively the name could have originated from "Tesson or Taisson, the Norman-French for badger." 1

Early Origins of the Tyssend family

The surname Tyssend was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from early times, where the name originally was Tesson, one of the most powerful families in Normandy seated at Angouleme. Their history is French more than Viking and they distinguished themselves against the Saracens in 725.

They were later seated at Anjou and Raoul Tesson the first Lord of Cingueleiz led 120 knights at Val-Des-Dunes in 1047. Gilbert Tesson, his brother, obtained the barony of Alnwick from King Edward the Confessor, England's Saxon King, and was killed at the Battle of Hastings, fighting on the Saxon side. 2

Early History of the Tyssend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tyssend research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1651, 1680 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Tyssend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tyssend Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Tyson, Tesson, Tewson, Tiuson, Tison, Dyson and many more.

Early Notables of the Tyssend family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tyssend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tyssend family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Tyssend or a variant listed above: Lewis Tyson who settled in Maryland in 1719; George Tyson settled in Virginia in 1642; Charles, Thomas, J. J.R. and Dr. Tyson all arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)


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