Bissi History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Italy

Etymology of Bissi

The distinguished surname Bissi can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Venice. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Bissi came from the personal name "Bixio." The original Latin form Bixius means gray, and would have been given to someone who had gray hair or a gray beard, or who habitually dressed in gray.

Early Origins of the Bissi family

Early History of the Bissi family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bissi research. The years 1507, 1523, 1550, 1568, 1611, 1662, 1787 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Bissi History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bissi Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Bissi include Bisio, Bixio, Bisi, Bissi, Biggino, Biggio, Biggi, Bigio, Bigi, Biselli, Bisetti and many more.

Early Notables of the Bissi family

Anton-Maria Bisi, Captain of Corazze in France in the 16th century; Nanni di Baccio Bigio, a pseudonym of Giovanni Lippi (died 1568), an Italian architect of the 16th century; Pietro Bisi, mayor of Bologna, Mantua, Siena, and Florence, and was a senator in Rome; Giuseppe Bisi...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bissi Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bissi family

An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Bissi: Abranio Bixio, aged 26 who arrived at Ellis Island from Genova, Italy South in 1906; Eugenio Bixio, aged 18 who arrived at Ellis Island from Lestri Levante, Italy in 1912.