Soon after the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066, the name Biss was recognized on the island as a name for a person with a dark complexion or person who dressed in dark clothing. The name stems from the Old English root
bis, which means
dingy or
murky. Early Origins of the Biss family
The surname Biss was first found in
Surrey, where they had been granted lands by King William, their liege Lord, after the
Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Biss family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biss research.
Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1667, 1721, 1710, 1713, 1713, 1721, 1615, 1602, 1680, 1630 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Biss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Biss Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of
spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Biss, Bisse and others.
Early Notables of the Biss family (pre 1700)
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Biss family to Ireland
Some of the Biss family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 117 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Biss family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Biss or a variant listed above:
Biss Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- James and Mary Biss who settled in New England in 1699
Biss Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Nicol Biss, who settled in New England in 1709
- Johan Georg Biss, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1767 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Biss Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Anthony Biss, aged 30, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1843 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Thomas Biss, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1848
Biss Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- A. Biss, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Crusader" in 1882
Contemporary Notables of the name Biss (post 1700)
- Andrew Biss, American contemporary playwright
- Jonathan Biss (b. 1980), American concert pianist
- Godfrey Charles Biss, Barrister
Historic Events for the Biss family
- Gordon Alwin Biss (d. 1942), British Leading Supply Assistant aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
- Mr. John Biss (b. 1922), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the sinking [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
The Biss 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: Ayez prudence
Motto Translation: Have prudence.