| ![Show Contents]() Bistley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BistleyWhat does the name Bistley mean? The surname Bistley 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 Bistley familyThe surname Bistley 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 Bistley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bistley research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1483, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Bistley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bistley Spelling VariationsNorman 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 Bisley, Bisley, Bissley, Bysley and others. Early Notables of the Bistley familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bistley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bistley familyMany English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. 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 Bistley or a variant listed above: 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)
 |
