Surname Bisschop - Meaning and Origin

Bisschop: What does the surname Bisschop mean?

The last name Bisschop is an old Dutch name derived from the title of a bishop, originating in the 13th century. It was one of the many hereditary scion names sought by those families in the Netherlands who had been elevated to positions of responsibility due to the success of their earlier ancestors.

The name's literal meaning is "bishop" and can be broken down into two words: "bis" - "twice" and "schop" - "shop or office". This can be interpreted to mean "one who holds two offices" which is a reference to the role of a bishop in the Catholic Church. Bishops have traditionally held high authority both in religious and secular matters.

The surnames Bisschop and Bisschopin were used to indicate members of the extended family of bishops and their respective courtiers by the 16th century, though exact boundaries of the family members are hard to trace. The word "Bisschop" is also found in several Dutch placenames, such as Bisschop in Overijssel, and derivatives of the name, such as Bisschopen, Bisschops, Bisschoper, Bisschopin and Bisschopsgraf, are also found in the Netherlands.

In addition, Danish and German variations of the name Bischop are also known, as are a few other minor derivatives, such as Bischoppen and Bisschoppeoloog. Ultimately, the surname Bisschop is a reminder of centuries of religious and secular leadership in the Netherlands.

Bisschop: Where does the name Bisschop come from?

The surname Bisschop (commonly spelled Bishop) is of Dutch origin and is primarily found in the Netherlands as well as other Dutch-speaking regions in Europe. It is derived from the Germanic term for bishop and was likely first used as an occupational surname to denote someone who held the occupation of a bishop.

Today, the last name Bisschop is still quite common in its native Netherlands. According to the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics, it is the 79th most common last name in the country. However, thanks to waves of immigration that began in the mid-20th century and continues today, Bisschop is increasingly becoming a global name, with substantial numbers found in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

The diaspora of Dutch immigrants who traveled to the United States in the 1700s and 1800s brought the Bisschop name with them. During the 1850-1860 U.S. Census, around 5% of Americans born in the Netherlands had the Bisschop, Bishop, or Bischoff surname. This figure has grown exponentially in the years since, with current estimates suggesting that roughly 0.18%-0.20% of the U.S. population carries these surnames.

In Canada, the Bisschop name is still uncommon, although Canadian citizens with Dutch heritage may well bear the surname. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, only about 53 people in the entire country had the Bishop surname.

Finally, due to waves of Dutch-speaking immigrants coming to the United Kingdom, additional communities of Bisschop holders can be found in the British Isles. According to one survey, more than 516 people reported the Bishop surname, making it a small but consistent presence in the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Bisschop

The surnames Bisschop, Bischopp, Biskop, Bischoff, Biscoe, and Biscope all trace their origin back to the Middle Ages in what is now Germany. The occupational name originates from the Middle High German “bischoppe,” which means “bishop.”

In the United Kingdom, the surname is primarily found in southern England and East Anglia. This may be because of its use as a locational surname, given to those who lived near to a prominent religious figure or a clergyman of a high ranking (such as a bishop).

Variants of the surname Bisschop can also be found as Bischoof, Bischopp, Biskop, Bischof, Bischoff, Bischopf, Igleschop, Biscoe, Biscope, Bisschopp, Byscope, and Bissoope.

In the United States, the surname is much less common. This may be explained by the lack of German immigration in early America. The occurrence today may be attributed to the arrival of German and Dutch immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The spelling of the surname has been known to change over time. This could be due to errors made by officials when recording names or deliberate changes to make the spelling more aesthetically pleasing. Possible changes might include 'Bischof' to 'Bischoff' or 'Bisschop' to 'Biscope'.

In summary, the surname 'Bisschop' has evolved over centuries to become the many different variants and spellings we know today. Despite the spelling changes, the occupational surname connects us to the religious leaders of centuries past.

Famous people with the name Bisschop

• Quirine Bisschop: Dutch field hockey player who was part of the national team from 2001 to 2008.
• Elbert Bisschop-S rivere: Dutch physician and professor at Utrecht University and at the University of Curaçao.
• Jan Bisschop: Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver of the Baroque period.
• Imme Bisschop: Dutch tennis player who was active from 1931 to 1936.
• Pieter Bisschop: Dutch track cyclist, who competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Yvonne Bisschop: Dutch rower who competed in pairs and eights at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics.
• Geert Bisschop: Dutch former speed skater, who was active in the late 1970s and early-1980s.
• Arnold Bisschop: Dutch politician, who was Mayor of Harderwijk (1903-1904), Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior (1915-1917) and Governor of South Holland (1948-1949).
• Kees Bisschop: Dutch chess player, who represented his country at the Chess Olympiad in Munich 1958.
• Sarah Bisschop: Dutch author and poet best known for her novel 'Tussen gewonde muren'.

Other surnames

BisschoffBisschops