| ![Show Contents]() Bissley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BissleyWhat does the name Bissley mean? The surname Bissley is derived from the large village named Bisley in Surrey. The village's name was first recorded in the 10th century as 'Busseleghe' when it was derived from the old English words 'Bysc', meaning bushes, and 'Leah', a clearing. In more modern terms, the name means 'clearing where bushes grow.' Bisley is also a village in Gloucestershire, but this latter village was established after the Surrey local. Finally, Bisley is also a game of solitaire we cannot determine if the surname is related. Early Origins of the Bissley familyThe surname Bissley was first found in Berkshire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Leofric of Abingdon who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Bissley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bissley research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1483, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Bissley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bissley Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Bisley, Bisley, Bissley, Bysley and others. Early Notables of the Bissley familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bissley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bissley familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Bissley or a variant listed above were: Wm. Bisley, who came to Virginia in 1618; Francis Bisley, who settled in Virginia in 1637; and Alexander Bisley, who arrived in New York in 1714.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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