Surname Besset - Meaning and Origin
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Besset: What does the surname Besset mean?
The last name Besset is of French origin and is predominantly found in the region of Auvergne in France. It is derived from the Old French term 'besse', which means 'hill' or 'mound'. Therefore, the surname Besset generally means 'one who lives by the hill' or 'dweller by the hill'. Like many surnames, Besset is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. It could also potentially be an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked on a hill. Over time, surnames like these became hereditary and started to be used as family names. Variants of the name Besset include Bessay, Bessai, Bessais, Besset, Bessy, Bessey, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisBesset: Where does the name Besset come from?
The surname Besset is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word "besse" which means "axe" or "hatchet". It was often used as a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or used axes, which shows that the first family to adopt the name likely had such an occupation. The name was actually recorded in the region of Lyonnais, in southeast France, where the family has held a family seat since ancient times.
The surname Besset is not particularly common today, but it still can be found in France, especially in the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, where its roots are deeper. In America, it is not very common, but there are some Besset families in the United States and Canada, likely descendants of French settlers. It is also worth noting that, like many surnames, variations of the name exist, including Bessette and Bessettes, which can also be found in French-speaking regions.
Variations of the surname Besset
The surname Besset is of French origin and is primarily found in the regions of Burgundy and Aquitaine in France. Its meaning is not entirely clear but it could derive from old French words indicating a thick or dense place.
The surname can be found in a variety of spellings due to regional dialects, phonetic spelling by English-speaking officials and immigration. These alternative spellings include Bessette, Besset, Besse, Besses, Bessot, Bessotte, Bessouet and Bessey.
A common variation in the United States is to add an extra "t" and "e" at the end (Bessette), likely due to the phonetic spelling.
Similar surnames are Besse and Bessy which can be derived from the same root. Another variant could be Bess, although this is typically of German origin and may not be directly related. Some other similar sounding surnames like Bessey, Besse, Bessie may also be variants or spellings of Besset.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, there are many French surnames originally derived from geographical features or professions, like Durand (enduring), Dupont (bridge) or Martin (derived from Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war).
Famous people with the name Besset
- André Bessette: known as Brother André, he was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure in the Roman Catholic Church among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous oil healings associated with his pious devotion to Saint Joseph.
- Jean-Claude Besset: a French playwright, famously known for his works such as "Rapaces" which won the Molière Prize (French theatre award) for Best Living Francophone Playwright in 2004.
- Johnny Besset: a Swedish musician and co-founder of 'The Boppers', one of Scandinavia's most popular rock 'n' roll bands.
- Rémi Besset: a French professional football player who has played for several clubs including Clermont Foot, AC Ajaccio and Le Havre AC. Please note that the last name 'Besset' is not very common among celebrities, therefore there are only a few famous people with this last name. Also, it is worth mentioning Caroline Bessette-Kennedy, the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., but technically her maiden name is Bessette.