Surname Bisett - Meaning and Origin

Bisett: What does the surname Bisett mean?

The last name Bisett is an old Anglo-Norman surname. It can trace its roots all the way back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the county of Yorkshire, England.

The name is derived from the pre-10th century Old French term "bisette" which means "a small dwelling". This could refer to a house or a farmstead. The name was most likely introduced to England during the Norman Conquest when William the Conqueror invited large numbers of French-speaking nobles to resettle in his new kingdom.

The name Bisett is first found in Yorkshire, where they were a prominent family of Anglo-Norman landed gentry, living in the northern part of the county since about the 11th century. They can trace their lineage through the centuries, with major land holdings in Yorkshire, and a long line of distinguished service inside the church.

Today, members of the Bisett family can be found in many countries around the world, each is a descendant of the noble origins of the Bisett name.

Bisett: Where does the name Bisett come from?

The last name Bisett is common today mainly in Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it is most popular in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

In France, Bisett is one of the top 1,000 last names used, according to the latest available data from the country’s national statistics agency. It is most common in the northeastern region of the country, particularly in the departments of Pas-de-Calais, Nord, and Alsace.

In Italy, Bisett is one of the top 2,000 last names. It is most common in the northern regions of the country, especially in Lombardy and Piedmont.

In the United Kingdom, Bisett is a relatively uncommon surname. It is most commonly found in England, particularly in London and the Home Counties.

The last name Bisett can also be found in some other parts of the world. It is used by descent from the emigration of those sharing the surname to such places as Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Bisett

The surname Bisett is derived from an old English occupational surname ‘bisceop’ meaning an overseer, manager or reeve who could have been in charge of either a person, an estate or a village. The variants, spellings and surnames all derived from this origin include Bishop, Bissett, Bissette, Bissitt, Byshopp, Byshott, Bushe, Bushell, Bysh, Byshope, Bishopp, Byshoppes, Byshopps, Byshipp, Bishiop, Bishop, Beshop, Byshope, Bishoppe, Bishopps, Bishopps, Byshoppe and Byshops. It is likely that other variant forms also exist.

One branch of the Bisett surname originates from the area now known as Norfolk, where there is an ancient and noble family of this name who held land in the parish of Thorpe Market during the 15th century. There is also a record of a Richard Bisest in the lay subsidy rolls for Norfolk in the same period, indicating that the surname was also present in that county throughout the late Middle Ages.

This particular surname found its way to Scotland in the 17th century, with references of Archibald Biset as a tenant in the Ragman Rolls of 1296. The surname was probably taken up by a Scottish family returning from spending time in England, and their descendants still hold the name Biset in Scotland today.

The Bisett surname is sometimes confused with another English surname, Basket, which is derived from the old French word 'bascet', meaning a round basket or covered vessel. This surname is found mostly in southern and eastern parts of England, and the spelling variations include Baskett, Bascot and Biscot. The two family names should not be confused, however, as they have distinct origins and histories.

Famous people with the name Bisett

• Andy Bisett: the Canadian actor best known for appearing in films such as The Day After Tomorrow and Blade: Trinity.
• Richard Bisett: an English actor who has worked on Broadway, television, and film.
• Samantha Bisett: an American fashion model who has been featured in Vogue, Elle, GQ, and Glamour.
• Nick Bisett: the British singer-songwriter who had a string of hits in the mid-1990s.
• Marilyn Bisett: acclaimed Canadian artist known for her large-scale public sculptures and installations.
• George Bisett: the American lawyer and former state senator who had a long career in public service.
• Emma Bisett: the actress who starred in such films as Catch a Fire and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
• Lucy Bisett: the New Zealand actress, best known for her roles in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men.
• Melissa Bisett: the Canadian actress and dancer who starred in the Broadway production of Cats.
• Michael Bisett: the Australian actor and stuntman who has appeared in films such as Mad Max Fury Road and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Other surnames

BisetBiseth