NameCensus.

UK surname

Bisset

A French surname derived from a pet form of "Baptist" or from the Old French word "bis" meaning brown.

In the 1881 census there were 2,339 people recorded with the Bisset surname, ranking it #1,899 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,953, ranked #3,287, down from #1,899 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ14, Brechin East and Black Isle South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bisset is 2,393 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.5%.

1881 census count

2,339

Ranked #1,899

Modern count

1,953

2016, ranked #3,287

Peak year

1901

2,393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bisset had 2,339 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,899 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,953 in 2016, ranked #3,287.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,393 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Bisset surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bisset surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bisset surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bisset over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,766 #1,634
1861 historical 1,880 #1,538
1881 historical 2,339 #1,899
1891 historical 2,385 #1,971
1901 historical 2,393 #2,276
1911 historical 262 #12,501
1997 modern 1,824 #3,292
1998 modern 1,887 #3,316
1999 modern 1,929 #3,270
2000 modern 1,928 #3,263
2001 modern 1,872 #3,282
2002 modern 1,894 #3,318
2003 modern 1,846 #3,319
2004 modern 1,862 #3,295
2005 modern 1,875 #3,248
2006 modern 1,890 #3,243
2007 modern 1,917 #3,228
2008 modern 1,904 #3,270
2009 modern 1,934 #3,304
2010 modern 1,989 #3,295
2011 modern 1,947 #3,315
2012 modern 1,936 #3,271
2013 modern 1,964 #3,295
2014 modern 1,978 #3,289
2015 modern 1,956 #3,287
2016 modern 1,953 #3,287

Geography

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Where Bissets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Perth and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ14, Brechin East, Black Isle South, Durno-Chapel of Garioch and Barrahill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Perth Perth
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ14 East Lothian
2 Brechin East Angus
3 Black Isle South Highland
4 Durno-Chapel of Garioch Aberdeenshire
5 Barrahill Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bisset

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bisset surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bisset

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bisset, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Bisset surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Bisset household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bisset is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bisset is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bisset falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bisset is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bisset, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bisset

The surname Bisset originated in Normandy, France during the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "bisset", meaning a reddish-brown color or complexion. The name likely referred to someone with reddish-brown hair or a ruddy complexion.

The Bisset family was among the Norman invaders who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. They settled in various parts of England and Scotland, with many establishing themselves in the Scottish Lowlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Biset". This was a survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One notable member of the Bisset family was Walter Bisset, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He was a Scottish noble and supporter of King William the Lion. In 1242, he was involved in a plot to assassinate Patrick, Earl of Atholl, leading to the forfeit of his lands.

Another significant figure was Manfred Bisset, born around 1230. He was a Scottish knight and crusader who participated in the Eighth Crusade to the Holy Land in 1270. He played a crucial role in the defense of Acre against the Mamluk Sultan Baibars.

In the 14th century, the Bissets were influential landowners in Berwickshire and East Lothian, Scotland. One notable member was Thomas Bisset, born around 1320, who served as a prominent soldier and diplomat during the reign of King David II.

The surname Bisset can also be found in various place names, such as Bisset Hills in Berwickshire, Scotland, and Bisset Park in Alberta, Canada, which was likely named after a person with the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Bisset include Sir John Bisset, a 16th-century Scottish landowner and courtier, and Sir Claude Bisset, a 17th-century Scottish merchant and ambassador to Russia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bisset families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bisset surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 568 Bissets recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.79x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 568 26.79x
Fife 294 21.69x
Midlothian 260 8.48x
Angus 210 9.90x
Lanarkshire 200 2.70x
Perthshire 190 18.49x
Ross-shire 89 14.16x
Kincardineshire 75 26.90x
West Lothian 47 13.63x
East Lothian 41 13.52x
Lancashire 39 0.14x
Renfrewshire 37 2.09x
Inverness-shire 32 4.68x
Stirlingshire 31 3.67x
Dumfriesshire 29 5.73x
Durham 26 0.38x
Morayshire 25 7.03x
Middlesex 24 0.10x
Banffshire 23 4.84x
Devon 17 0.36x
Channel Islands 10 1.47x
Kirkcudbrightshire 9 2.72x
Surrey 8 0.07x
Ayrshire 7 0.41x
Gloucestershire 7 0.16x
Northumberland 7 0.21x
Argyllshire 6 0.94x
Clackmannanshire 6 3.17x
Sussex 5 0.13x
Wigtownshire 4 1.32x
Somerset 3 0.08x
Sutherland 3 1.70x
Wiltshire 3 0.15x
Isle of Man 2 0.47x
Oxfordshire 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 0.73x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Peeblesshire 1 0.93x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x
Yorkshire 1 0.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 189 Bissets recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.69x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 189 42.69x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 119 30.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 111 9.00x
Govan 75 4.10x
Barony 59 3.15x
Dundee 57 7.20x
Perth East Church 53 54.71x
Inveresk 33 39.74x
Liff Benvie 33 10.25x
Urray 29 148.57x
Fraserburgh 27 45.23x
Newhills 26 59.88x
Panbride 26 235.29x
Banchory Ternan 25 103.69x
Glasgow 24 1.83x
Killearnan 23 277.11x
Peterhead 23 20.51x
Perth West Church 22 45.12x
Markinch 20 43.47x
Rattray 20 83.61x
Dunfermline 19 9.12x
Bathgate 18 24.05x
Blairgowrie 18 44.29x
Uphall 18 47.47x
Crimond 17 260.34x
Inverurie 17 70.89x
Largo 17 96.59x
Monifieth 17 22.69x
St Andrews 17 27.57x
Stirling 17 15.97x
Cupar 16 27.15x
Kilconquhar 16 99.19x
Old Monkland 16 5.45x
Tibbermore 16 108.62x
Brechin 15 18.00x
Old Deer 15 37.33x
Closeburn 14 118.74x
Duddingston 14 22.74x
Anstruther Easter 13 132.92x
Carnbee 13 157.00x
Cluny 13 127.45x
Cromarty 13 77.24x
Strathmiglo 13 80.25x
Arbroath 12 17.07x
Beath 12 28.02x
Cameron 12 152.48x
Fordoun 12 76.82x
Longside 12 47.39x
Burntisland 11 29.03x
Hylton 11 91.59x
Monquhitter 11 50.11x
Rathen 11 49.51x
Resolis 11 98.04x
South Leith 11 3.19x
Edinburgh New 10 41.98x
Forgan 10 38.52x
Forgue 10 52.52x
Toxteth Park 10 1.09x
West Greenock 10 3.14x
Abbotshall 9 17.77x
Crawcrook 9 254.96x
Falkirk 9 4.55x
Falkland 9 42.21x
Fetteresso 9 20.60x
Islington London 9 0.41x
Kirknewton 9 102.04x
Maryculter 9 107.14x
Whittinghame 9 179.28x
Aberdalgie 8 341.88x
Cathcart 8 8.33x
Dalziel 8 10.04x
Dyce 8 87.53x
Kinloch 8 400.00x
Kirkcaldy 8 11.90x
Liverpool 8 0.48x
Newtyle 8 111.27x
Paisley Middle Church 8 7.74x
Rafford 8 96.15x
Torryburn 8 136.75x
Pitsligo 7 34.53x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bisset surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bisset surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 16
James 10
George 7
John 7
Charles 4
David 4
Andrew 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Adolphus 1
Alexander 1
Auguste 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fredk.Thomas 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Mordaunt 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Bisset surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bisset surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,339 people were recorded with the Bisset surname. That placed it at #1,899 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bisset surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,953 in 2016. That gives Bisset a modern rank of #3,287.

What does the Bisset surname mean?

A French surname derived from a pet form of "Baptist" or from the Old French word "bis" meaning brown.

What does the Bisset map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bisset bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.