This interesting name of English origin is the diminutive form of the name Biss, the suffix 'ett' denoting 'little' or 'son of'. Biss is a nickname surname for someone with a pallid complexion, maybe from indoor occupation. The derivation is from the Middle English, Old French 'bis', dingy and murky. William The Lion in 1174, on his return from captivity in Falaise and in England, brought back one Henricus Byset, whose son, John Byset was granted extensive lands, in the North. The Bissets of Lessendrum are among the oldest families in Aberdeenshire, and are still flourishing there and in Moray.
Recorded marriages in St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, are between Alexander Bissett and Kattrin Cultis in 1591, and Elspee Bissett and Alexander Stewart on May 5th 1611. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ernulf Biset, which was dated 1155, The Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry 11, 'The Builder of Churches', 1154-1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Discovering the historical origins of Bessett is an incredibly exciting journey that takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who built this lineage. Like most surnames, the history of the surname Bessett is a thorny and surprising journey into the past in order to find out the origin of the surname Bessett, which leads us to have more knowledge about those who bear the surname Bessett, their origin, their coat of arms, the bibliography in which it appears... It is possible to trace their genealogy and, in addition to the original places of Bessett, we know where it is possible to find people with the surname Bessett today.
View complete list of Bessett in the world
The history of Bessett is an interesting sequence of events that were protagonized by the people who have held the surname Bessett throughout history, and it is possible to trace this history back to the first bearers of the surname Bessett. Their feats, their way of life, the places they lived, their family relationships, the jobs they held... All of this is crucial for anyone who, like you, is interested in having more information about the historical, heraldic, coat of arms, and nobility of the surname Bessett. In the following lines, you can find everything we have been able to compile about the surname Bessett. However, if you have more information that you would like to share, we would greatly appreciate your contribution to expand the knowledge of people who, like you, are looking to increase their knowledge about the surname Bessett.
Unfortunately, we do not have any more historical information about Bessett than the one we have provided with pleasure. We invite those who visit us on this website to analyze the recommended bibliography and to come back often, since we often receive valuable collaborations from other people interested in the origin and history of surnames that could have information of special interest about the surname Bessett, and that we would update on this website as soon as possible (after a previous verification). Similarly, if you consider yourself one of those people, we urge you to support us and send us the information about Bessett that is available to you, thanking you in advance for your detail.
There have probably been some significant Bessett throughout the history of humanity, even if, for some reason, not all of their contributions were included in the chronicles of the time or their data has not come down to the present day. Unfortunately, not all of the important contributions of people who have carried the surname Bessett were taken into account at the time by the chroniclers of the time. Although a surname has the ability to link a person to a famous lineage and a glorious coat of arms, it is individuals who, throughout their lives and by virtue of some outstanding or important achievements for the society in which they lived, give their surnames renown and it is possible to establish prominent lineages. For this reason, we want to highlight on this website those people with the surname Bessett who, for some reason, have left their mark on the course of history.
Based on all the research we have been able to gather so far, we can say that there is information available about the history, genealogy, and heraldry of the surname Bessett thanks to bibliographic sources. This means that we can discover more about its original meaning, origin, history, coat of arms, and heraldry. Our recommendation is to consult the following sources if you want to conduct research on the surname Bessett, as well as many other surnames:
These sources are essential for taking a step forward in the study of Bessett, and of surnames in general.