Contents [hide]

Bisson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Bisson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The history of the Bisson family goes back to the Medieval landscape of northern France, to the coastal region known as Normandy. It is derived from the family living in Normandy. 1

It is believed by some sources that the name Bisson originally came from the French word "buisson", which translates to "small tree" or "bush". 2

Early Origins of the Bisson family

The surname Bisson was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy.

Richard du Buisson accompanied Guillaume the Conqueror, and his name is on the list of the companions of this prince in the church of Dives. Philippe du Buisson is cited in 1160. Richard du Buisson crossed Richard Heart of a Lion in 1189. Philippe du Buisson and his son Robert died in the seventh crusade in 1251.

Early History of the Bisson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bisson research. The years 1046, 1637, 1666, 1685, 1739, 1742, 1767, 1789, 1796, 1807, 1848 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Bisson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bisson Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of French surnames; in part, as spelling, and the spelling names was not yet standardized during the early development of the written French language. Later, there was much branching and movement of families, and spellings would change according to region. Variations of the name Bisson include Bisson, Buisson, Bichon, Du Buisson, Du Bisson, Beson and many more.

Early Notables of the Bisson family

Notable amongst the family in this period was

a lawyer of the King, two priors (priests) from Caen, a councillor at the Rouen parliament, two general captains for the militia of Normandy, two knights of Saint Louis. This family maintained its nob...
Alexandre Bisson was an author of drama in Briouze in 1848. Roger Buisson de Courson, born in 1850, was chivalry officer, a Roman count, was heavily involved in the Church, and was married to Noelle-M...

Bisson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bisson is the 4,293^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Bisson is ranked the 496^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,807 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Bisson is the 216^th popular surname. 5 France ranks Bisson as 1,134^th with 4,835 people. 6

Bisson migration to the United States +

Approximately 110 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. France gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. Migration to New France (Quebec) continued from France until it fell in 1759. In the year 1675 the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Bisson has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Bisson were

Bisson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gerrais Bisson, who was married in 1635 in America

Bisson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Bisson, who settled in New York in 1841

Bisson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Antoine Bisson, son of René and Marie-Madeleine, who married Élisabeth Labadie, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on 24th January 1701 7
Antoine Bisson, son of Gervais and Marie, who married Ursule Trud, daughter of Mathurin and Marguerite, in Quebec on 24th May 1671 7
Augustin-Urbain Bisson, son of Clément-Urbain and Thérese, who married Françoise Le Meilleur, daughter of Jean and Élisabeth, in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec on 6th July 1761 7
Clément-Urbain Bisson, son of Antoine and Élisabeth, who married Marie-Thérèse Boucher, daughter of François-Marie and Thérèse, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec on 28th July 1734 7
François Bisson, son of Joseph and Marie-Françoise, who married Michelle Dupuis, daughter of François and Jeanne, in Saint-Constant, Quebec on 7th January 1762 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bisson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Antoine Bisson, married in Duquet in 1671

Bisson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elie Bisson was a member of parliament in 1891 in Beauharnois, Quebec

Bisson migration to Australia +

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

Bisson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Bisson, aged 48, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 8
Priscilla Bisson, aged 23, a laundress, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 9
Rachel Bisson, aged 58, a laundress, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" 9

Bisson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bisson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Philip Bisson, aged 28, a shoemaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Esther Bisson, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Philip Bisson, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Adolphus Bisson, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
Louisa Bisson, aged 5 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bisson (post 1700) +

Terry Ballantine Bisson (1942-2024), American science fiction and fantasy author
Terry Ballantine Bisson (b. 1942), American science fiction and fantasy author
Baptiste Pierre François Jean Gaspard Bisson, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 10
Alexandre Charles Auguste Bisson (1848-1912), French playwright, and novelist
Claude Bisson (b. 1931), Canadian Judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal, and Communications Security Establishment Commissioner, made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998
Christopher Paul Bisson (b. 1975), British actor

Citations +

Dauzat, Albert, Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionaire Étymologique des Noms et Prénoms de France. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1987. Print.
Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) Baptiste Bisson. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html