Show ContentsTissane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Tissane

What does the name Tissane mean?

Soon after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Tissane was recognized on the island as a name for a fiesty or hot-tempered person. The name is a metaphor derived from the Old French word tison meaning fire-brand.

Alternatively the name could have originated from "Tesson or Taisson, the Norman-French for badger." 1

Early Origins of the Tissane family

The surname Tissane was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from early times, where the name originally was Tesson, one of the most powerful families in Normandy seated at Angouleme. Their history is French more than Viking and they distinguished themselves against the Saracens in 725.

They were later seated at Anjou and Raoul Tesson the first Lord of Cingueleiz led 120 knights at Val-Des-Dunes in 1047. Gilbert Tesson, his brother, obtained the barony of Alnwick from King Edward the Confessor, England's Saxon King, and was killed at the Battle of Hastings, fighting on the Saxon side. 2

Early History of the Tissane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tissane research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1651, 1680 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Tissane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tissane Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Tissane family name include Tyson, Tesson, Tewson, Tiuson, Tison, Dyson and many more.

Early Notables of the Tissane family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tissane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tissane family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Tissane family to immigrate North America: Lewis Tyson who settled in Maryland in 1719; George Tyson settled in Virginia in 1642; Charles, Thomas, J. J.R. and Dr. Tyson all arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)


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