NameCensus.

UK surname

Bisson

A Norman French nickname meaning "the son," likely referring to the eldest or most prominent son.

In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Bisson surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, up from #25,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, East Riding of Yorkshire and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bisson is 360 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 539.3%.

1881 census count

56

Ranked #25,733

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

2012

360 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bisson had 56 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bisson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bisson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bisson 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 56 #25,733
1891 historical 92 #25,109
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 346 #12,726
2000 modern 333 #12,999
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 350 #12,620
2003 modern 344 #12,577
2004 modern 340 #12,707
2005 modern 327 #13,011
2006 modern 322 #13,234
2007 modern 326 #13,260
2008 modern 342 #12,933
2009 modern 342 #13,193
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 360 #12,673
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 359 #13,025
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Bissons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Southampton St Mary and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, East Riding of Yorkshire, Hart, South Ribble and Cherwell. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 034 Liverpool
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Hart 004 Hart
4 South Ribble 013 South Ribble
5 Cherwell 004 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bisson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bisson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bisson, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Bisson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bisson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bisson 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

Bisson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bisson falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bisson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bisson

The surname Bisson is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "bisson," meaning "brown" or "tawny." This descriptive name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone with a brownish or tanned complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy, as early as the 12th century. Historical records indicate that the name was present in the village of Bisson, located in the department of Calvados in Normandy.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Bisson," "Byszoun," and "Bysonn," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable mention is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded individuals with the name Bisson in the counties of Somerset and Devon in England.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name Bisson. However, it is possible that the name existed in its early forms during that time but was not recorded in this particular document.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Bisson have achieved recognition in various fields. One notable figure was François Bisson (1767-1811), a French military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Bisson rose to the rank of General and was awarded the prestigious Légion d'Honneur for his service.

Another prominent figure was Alexandre Bisson (1848-1912), a French playwright and author known for his comedic works. His plays, such as "Le Députe de Bombignac" and "Le Contrôleur des Wagons-Lits," were widely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the realm of art, Louis-Auguste Bisson (1814-1876) was a notable French painter and lithographer. He is particularly renowned for his depictions of historical scenes and portraits, many of which can be found in museums across France.

Moving to the 20th century, Camille Bisson (1904-1998) was a distinguished French scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Gallo, a regional language spoken in parts of northwestern France.

Lastly, Jean-Pierre Bisson (1917-2005) was a French writer and historian known for his works on World War II and the French Resistance. His book "Vichy et la Résistance" (Vichy and the Resistance) received critical acclaim for its in-depth analysis of the Vichy regime and the resistance movement during the war.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bisson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bisson 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. Channel Islands leads with 489 Bissons recorded in 1881 and an index of 310.42x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 489 310.42x
Lancashire 17 0.27x
Surrey 15 0.58x
Devon 5 0.45x
Middlesex 4 0.08x
Dorset 3 0.86x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.62x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Essex 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Kent 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Northamptonshire 1 0.20x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 188 Bissons recorded in 1881 and an index of 366.54x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 188 366.54x
St Michaelinthe Vale 55 978.65x
St Saviour 47 539.61x
St John 40 1328.90x
St Lawrence 30 697.67x
Trinity 29 794.52x
St Peter Port 25 85.79x
St Brelade 20 493.83x
St Mary 20 1104.97x
St Sampson 12 169.01x
Grouville 8 182.23x
Newington 8 4.07x
Liverpool 7 1.83x
St Peter 7 154.19x
Toxteth Park 7 3.28x
Penge 6 17.67x
St Martin 5 51.81x
Stoke Damerel 5 6.46x
Weymouth 3 45.39x
Ratcliffe London 2 6.81x
St Andrew 2 96.15x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 15.61x
West Derby 2 1.08x
Aldershot 1 2.74x
Barony 1 0.23x
Battersea 1 0.51x
Berkeley 1 17.24x
Boston 1 3.88x
Broughton In Salford 1 1.73x
Chipping Ongar 1 55.25x
Greenwich 1 1.18x
Marholm 1 333.33x
Middlesbrough 1 1.46x
Paddington London 1 0.51x
Rocester 1 45.05x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.46x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 75.19x
St Maryde Castro 1 25.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 35
George 19
Charles 16
Philip 15
Edward 10
Francis 10
Henry 10
Daniel 9
Thomas 9
Alfred 8
Frederick 7
Walter 7
Nicholas 6
Peter 6
Elias 5
James 5
Josue 5
William 4
Clement 3
Elie 3
Nicolas 3
Adolphus 2
Caleb 2
Ernest 2
Joshua 2
Ph. 2
Sidney 2
Chales 1
Charle 1
Clarence 1
Durell 1
Edgar 1
Edouard 1
Edwd. 1
Eugene 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jean 1
Oswald 1
Paul 1
Phillip 1
Pholip 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Tho. 1

FAQ

Bisson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bisson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Bisson surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bisson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Bisson a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Bisson surname mean?

A Norman French nickname meaning "the son," likely referring to the eldest or most prominent son.

What does the Bisson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bisson 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.