Origin of the surname Bisley

Recorded as Bisly, Bisley and Bizley, this is an English surname. It is locational from either the village of Bisley in Surrey, famous for being the world centre of rifle shooting for the past two centuries, or the lesser known Bisley in Gloucestershire. Both villages were recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles of the 10th century as Busseleghe and Bislege respectively. The name probably means in both cases the 'farm' (leah) on the water (biss), the latter being a pre Roman British word which can mean stream, river, lake, or in fact anything to do with water! The Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names states that the village in Gloucestershire is not on a stream and therefore the name cannot mean water, but sadly they are wrong, as they often are.

They appear to have failed to take into account that many streams have been lost through land drainage schemes or diversions in the past five centuries. Locational surnames are usually 'from' names. That is to say names given to people after they left their original villages to move somewhere else. In so doing they took or were given, as their surname the name of their former home. Spelling being at best indifferent and local dialects very thick, soon lead to the development of 'sounds like' spellings as with this name. The first known recording of the surname is probably that of John de Bislege in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in the year 1273.

The surname Bisley. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of bisley leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname bisley is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of bisley.

The surname Bisley around the world

There is a considerable probability that bisley has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where bisley is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname bisley provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Bisley

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named bisley are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname bisley, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of bisley developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname bisley.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of bisley could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about bisley and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Bisley

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname bisley, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname bisley were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname bisley, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname bisley who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Bisley and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname bisley, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of bisley are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of bisley.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bisley, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Bisley