Bassey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

From the historical and enchanting region of Bourgoigne emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Bassey family. Originally, the French people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in France is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Bassey is a nickname type of surname for a short person. The surname Bassey is derived from the Old English words "bas" and "basse", which mean low, short; these words ultimately stem from the Latin word "bassus" which means "thickset".

Early Origins of the Bassey family

The surname Bassey was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where the family has held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Bassey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bassey research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1229, 1258, 1294, 1300, 1400, 1501, 1573 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Bassey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bassey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Baissey, Baissy, Baisseys, Baissie, Baysee, Bassey, Bassye, Baysey, Baysay, Baysie, Baycy, Baycey, Baissies, Bayssey, Bayssie, Bayssies, Beissey, Beissie, Beissies, Baicey, Baicie, Baicies, Baycey, Baycie, Baycies, Beicey, Beicie, Beicies, de Baissey and many more.

Early Notables of the Bassey family

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

Bassey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bassey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Louis Bassey, aged 32, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1871 1

Bassey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bassey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Jacob Bassey U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 2
Mr. Robert Bassey Jr., U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Lincoln County, Ontario c. 1783 was a solider in Butlers Rangers, possible the son of Robert Bassey Sr. 2

Bassey migration to Australia +

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

Bassey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Bassey (aged 22), a mason, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Gomelza"

The Bassey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vive ut post vivas
Motto Translation: So live that you may live herafter

Citations +

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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X