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Origins of

the Surname

Variations of

the Surname

Armorial Bearings,

 Symbols and Mottoes

Locations of

the Surname

Internet Resources

Our Family History

Origins of the Surname

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About

Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th century.   Surnames were first utilized in the Germanic region of central Europe during the second half of the 12th century.  The custom of taking on surnames began in the southern areas of Germany, and gradually spread northward during the Middle Ages.  It took about three hundred years for this tradition to apply to most families and become a constant part of one’s identity.        With the passing of generations and the movement of families from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription. 

Map of European Languages

Research into the record of this BISHOP family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname are most likely linked to that area of Europe where English, Scots, and/or Irish linguistic traditions are commonly found.   

Sources and Meanings of the Surname

Most modern Germanic and French family names are a means conveying lineage.  For the most part, German surnames were developed from four major sources: (1) Patronymic & Matronymic surnames most common in northern Germany are based on a parent’s first name, such as Niklas Albrecht (Niklas son of Albrecht);  (2) occupational surnames are last names based on the person’s job or trade for example Lukas Fischer (Lukas the Fisherman);  (3) descriptive surnames are based on a unique quality or physical feature of the individual like Karl Braun (Karl with brown hair); (4) geographical surnames are derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived such as Leon Meer (Leon from by the sea), or derived from the state, region, or   village of the first bearer's origin for example Paul Cullen (Paul from Koeln/Cologne).

Most of the modern English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh family names throughout Great Britain have originated as a result of the following circumstances: patronym or matronym, names based on the name of one's father, mother or ancestor, (Johnson, Wilson). Each is a means of conveying lineage; occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); habitational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

The Bishop surname evolved from the Middle English biscop, Old English bisc(e)op ‘bishop’, which comes via Latin from Greek episkopos ‘overseer’. The Greek word was adopted early in the Christian era as a title for an overseer of a local community of Christians, and has yielded cognates in every European language: French évêque, Italian vescovo, Spanish obispo, Russian yepiskop, German Bischof, etc. The English surname has probably absorbed at least some of these continental European cognates.

The Bishop surname did not refer to a church bishop as such.   Rather it was either an occupational name, describing somebody who served in the household of a bishop, or it was a nickname for one with the bearing of a bishop of the church, or  a person who played the part of a bishop in the travelling theatres of the medieval period.  In England there was the strange custom of electing a "boy bishop" on St. Nicholas's Day, the 6th of December, and some name holders may well derive from that source.

History of the Surname

Most Germanic Surnames from Central Europe have their roots in the Germanic Middle Ages.  The process of forming family names in what is present day Germany began during Middle High German period in the history of the German language from the early 12^th Century to the 16^th century.   The nobility and wealthy land owners were the first to begin using surnames.  Merchants and townspeople then adopted the custom, as did the rural population.  This process took two or three centuries.  In most of the Germanic States of the Holy Roman Empire, the practice of using surnames was well established by the 1500s.

Surnames of the British Isles as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not in use in England or Scotland, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and were first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans who had adopted the custom just prior to this time.    Soon thereafter it became a mark of a generally higher socio-economic status and thus seen as disgraceful for a well-bred man to have only one name.  It was not until the middle of the 14^th century that surnames became general practice among all people in the British Isles

The concept of French Surnames come from the Medieval French word 'surnom' translating as "above-or-over name," surnames or descriptive names trace their use back to 11th century France, when it first became necessary to add a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same given name. The custom of using surnames did not become common for several centuries, however.

First use of BISHOP, as a name, in England is found in Worcestershire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.  Throughout English history prominent families with the surname are known to have been seated in the following counties: Warwickshire, Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, Norfolk, Wochestershire, Devonshire, Shropshire, Hampshire, Sussex, and Hampshire.  For example, three generations are known to have been seated in Warwickshire during the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  They included Anthony Bishop, who held the Bordesley manor in the parish of Oxhill located in Warwickshire, England.   Anthony was the son of John Bishop of Braylcs, and the grandson of George Bishop.  Another was the Bishoppe family seated at Bristol in Somersetshire, England where, during the 17^th century, Edmond Bishoppe was the Sergeant of Mace and Minister to the Tolsey Court at Bristol.  The most prominent family held the Bishopp Baronetcy.  This  was an hereditary baronetcy in the Baronetage of England that was created by King James I in 1620 for Sir Thomas Bishopp, (1550–1626) who became the 1st Baronet of Parham in the County of Sussex.  His son Henry Bishopp, (1611–1691), was a Postmaster General of England and inventor of the first postmark used on mail. 

The earliest recording of the name mention Biscop (without surname) who was listed as a tenant in the Domesday Book of 1086.   Formal recordings of this name date from the 12th century and examples include: Lefwinus Bissop, which was dated 1166, in the Pipe Rolls of the city of Nottingham, England;  Bissop (without surname) documented in Northumberland in the year 1195 and Algar se Bisceop was recorded in County Devon in the year 1198.   Other early records are of: Thurstan le Byssop, of the county of Essex in the year 1240;  Thomas le Byscop recorded in the year 1297 in the County of Essex;  John le Bissup, was documented in the year 1273 in County Oxford. Peter Bissop of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379.   Later instances of the name include James Bishop of Warrington who was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1614. John Golling married Elizabeth Bishop, St. Michael, Cornhill, London in 1656.

Some Notable Persons, Places, or Things Having This Name

Some of the best known persons, places, or things bearing the BISHOP name, or its close variants are:  Amanda Bishop, Australian actress;  Andy Bishop (born 1982), English footballer;  Anne Bishop, American novelist of fantasy fiction;  Arthur Ernest Bishop (1917–2006), Australian engineer and inventor;  Arthur Gary Bishop (1951–1988), American serial killer;  Ben Bishop (born 1986), American professional ice hockey goaltender;  Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831–1884), Princess of the Kamehameha dynasty;  Billy Bishop (1894–1956), Canadian First World War flying ace;  Bob Bishop (scout), Northern Irish football scout for Manchester United;  Bradford Bishop (born 1936), U.S. Foreign Service officer;  Bridget Bishop (c. 1632 – 1692), the first person executed for witchcraft during the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692;  Bronwyn Bishop (born 1942), Australian politician;  Charles Reed Bishop (1822–1915), American businessman and philanthropist;  Christopher Bishop, British physician and computer scientist;  David Bishop, New Zealand, screenwriter, author and comics editor;  David Bishop (athlete) (born 1987), British middle-distance athlete;  Ed Bishop (1932–2005), American film, television, stage and radio actor;  Edward Bishop (Salem), accused of witchcraft during the Salem witchcraft trials;  Edward Bishop III, accused of witchcraft during the Salem witchcraft trials;  Edward Stanley Bishop (1920–1984), British Labour Party politician;  Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979), American poet and writer;  Elvin Bishop (born 1942), American blues and rock 'n roll musician;  Errett Bishop (1926–1983), American mathematician;  Harry A. Bishop, mayor of Juneau, Alaska 1912–1913;  Henry Bishop (postmaster general) (1611–1691), English postmaster general;  Henry Rowley Bishop (1786–1855), English musical composer;  Ian Bishop (cricketer), West Indian cricketer and commentator;  Isaac W. Bishop, 19th-century New York politician;  Jerry G. Bishop (1936–2013), American radio and television personality;  Joey Bishop (1918–2007), American entertainer;  John Bishop (disambiguation), disambiguation page for various people with this name;  Julie Bishop (actress) (1914–2001), Hollywood leading lady of the 1930s and 40s;  Julie Bishop (born 1956), Australian politician;  K. J. Bishop, Australian writer and artist;  Kelly Bishop (born 1944), American actress;  Kevin Bishop (born 1980), English actor and comedian;  Kirsten Bishop, voice actress;  Malcolm Bishop, Welsh lawyer and QC;  Mark Bishop (born 1954), Australian Labor Party member;  Matt Bishop (born 1962), head of Communications and Public Relations for the McLaren Group;  Maurice Bishop (1944–1983), Grenadian revolutionary and politician;  Max Bishop (1889–1962), American baseball player;  Meredith Bishop (born 1976), American actress;  Michael Bishop (businessman) (born 1942), British businessman;  Michael Bishop (author) (born 1945), American science fiction and fantasy author;  Michael Bishop (bassist), American bassist, member of GWAR and Kepone;  Michael Bishop (football player) (born 1976), American football player;  J. Michael Bishop (born 1938), American immunologist and microbiologist;  Morris Bishop (1893–1973), American scholar, historian, biographer, author, and humorist;  Neal Bishop (born 1981), English footballer;  Nicholas Bishop (born 1973), Australian actor;  Raymond J. Bishop (1906–1978), Catholic priest and exorcist;  Richard M. Bishop (1812–1893), American politician from Ohio;  Rob Bishop (born 1951), Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives;  Robert Bishop (artist) (1945–1991), American erotic artist;  Robert Hamilton Bishop (1777–1855), first president of Miami University;  Roswell P. Bishop (1843–1920), American politician from Michigan;  Russell Bishop (academic), New Zealand academic;  Russell Bishop (sex offender) (born 1966), convicted English sex offender;  Ruth Bishop (born 1933), Australian virologist;  Sherman C. Bishop (1887–1951), American herpetologist and arachnologist;  Stephen Bishop (disambiguation), several people;  Stuart Bishop (born c. 1975), incoming member of the Louisiana House of Representatives;  Tim Bishop (born 1950), American politician from New York;  Walter Bishop, Sr. (1905–1964), Jamaican composer and songwriter;  and Walter Bishop, Jr. (1927–1988), American bop and hard bop jazz pianist

More About Surname Meanings & Origins

GERMAN SURNAMES

Many German names have their roots in the Germanic Middle Ages. The process of forming family names began early in the 12^th Century and extended through the 16^th century. All social classes and demographic strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the bearer's whole family.  At first through verbal usage, family names (Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing.  Until the 17th century, first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead.  If a person of family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they came from.  Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a living.  Another group are names derived from a physical or other characteristic of the first bearer.  Finally, there are names that tell you the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old division in tribes and regions (Low German, Middle German and Upper German) is often reflected in names.

BRITISH SURNAMES

Although the Domesday Book compiled by William the Conqueror required surnames, the use of them in the British Isles did not become fixed until the time period between 1250 and 1450.  The broad range of ethnic and linguistic roots for British surnames reflects the history of Britain as an oft-invaded land. These roots include, but are not limited to, Old English, Middle English, Old French, Old Norse, Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Pictish, Welsh, Gaulish, Germanic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew.  Throughout the British Isles, there are basically five types of native surnames. Some surnames were derived from a man's occupation (Carpenter, Taylor, Brewer, Mason), a practice that was commonplace by the end of the 14th century.  Place names reflected a location of residence and were also commonly used (Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale) as a basis for the surname, for reasons that can be easily understood.  Nicknames that stuck also became surnames.  About one-third of all surnames in the United Kingdom are patronymic in origin, and identified the first bearer of the name by his father (or grandfather in the case of some Irish names). When the coast of England was invaded by William The Conqueror in the year 1066, the Normans brought with them a store of French personal names, which soon, more or less, entirely replaced the traditional more varied Old English personal names, at least among the upper and middle classes. A century of so later, given names of the principal saints of the Christian church began to be used. It is from these two types of given name that the majority of the English patronymic surnames are derived and used to this day.  Acquired ornamental names were simply made up, and had no specific reflection on the first who bore the name. They simply sounded nice, or were made up as a means of identification, generally much later than most surnames were adopted.   Source: http://www.obcgs.com/LASTNAMES.htm

FRENCH SURNAMES

Suffixes & Prefixes - While not in common use as in Italy or Sweden, some French surnames are formed by the addition of various prefixes and suffixes. A variety of French suffixes including -eau, -elet, -elin, -elle, and -elot, mean "little son of" and can be found attached to a given name to form a patronym. Prefixes of French surnames also have specific origins. The prefixes "de," "des," "du," and "le" each translate as "of" and may be found used in patronymic and geographical French surnames. Some French-Norman patronymic surnames will have the prefix "fritz," from the Old French for "son of" (Fitzgerald - son of Gerald). 

Alias Surnames or Dit Names - In some areas of France, a second surname may have been adopted in order to distinguish between different branches of the same family, especially when the families remained in the same town for generations. These alias surnames can often be found preceded by the word "dit." Sometimes an individual even adopted the dit name as the family name, and dropped the original surname. This practice was most common in France among soldiers and sailors.

Germanic Origins of French Names - As so many French surnames are derived from first names, it is important to know that many common French first names have Germanic origins, coming into fashion during German invasions into France. Therefore, having a name with Germanic origins does not necessarily mean that you have German ancestors!

Official Name Changes in France - Beginning in 1474, anyone who wished to change his name was required to get permission from the King. These official name changes can be found indexed in: Jérôme, archiviste. Dictionnaire des changements de noms de 1803 à 1956 (Dictionary of changed names from 1803 to 1956). Paris: Librairie Française, 1974.   Source: French Surname Meanings & Origins

Use this LINK to find the ethnic origin and meaning of last

names. Surname dictionary and

genealogy helps include names of Irish, German, English, French, Italian, and Jewish descent.

Variations of the Surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families. The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents. 

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bishop, Bisshop, Bisshope, Bishope, Bishoppe, Bischop (German), and many more, (as noted below). 

Spelling variations of this family name may be ascertained through the utilization of several systems developed over the years.  The most prominently known are Soundex, Metaphone, and the NameX systems.  Of the three we recommend NameX as the most accurate for family historians.

Click on the button to find the variants of this or any other surname by utilizing The Name Thesaurus a ground-breaking technology for finding Surname and Forename variants.

This useful genealogy research tool has identified 385 million variants for 5,929,000 Surnames and 26 million variants for 1,246,000 Forenames, as well as gender identification for more than 220,000 Forenames.

NameX matched 169 spelling variations of the BISHOP surname. The top 20 are:

Metaphone is a phonetic algorithm, first published in 1990, for indexing words by their English pronunciation.  It fundamentally improves on the Soundex algorithm by using information about variations and inconsistencies in English spelling and pronunciation to produce a more accurate encoding. Later a new version of the algorithm named Double Metaphone was created to take into account spelling peculiarities of a number of other languages. In 2009 a third version, called Metaphone 3, achieves an accuracy of approximately 99% for English words, non-English words familiar to Americans, and first names and family names commonly found in the U.S.  The Metaphone Code for BISHOP is BXP.  There are 117 other surnames sharing this code.

The Soundex System was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname. Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for BISHOP is B210.  There are 2525 other surnames sharing this Code. 

If The Name Thesaurus doesn’t adequately address the name you are looking for check out the following link:

Top 10 Tips for Finding Alternative Surname Spellings & Variations

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

Use LINK button to view our Surname Locator & Resources page.

Locations of the Surname

Locational Distribution of this Surname

Historical Distribution of this Surname

Locational Distribution of This Surname

Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist. 

The information presented herein shows where the BISHOP surname is distributed within North America as well as in Europe the location of origin for this surname.      Statistics show that the country were this surname is the most highly clustered is Canada with approximately 719.07 persons per million of population.  The density of population in the within the United States is 474.21 persons per million of population.  The top region in the World where this surname is the most highly clustered is Stratford District, New Zealand with 2626.59 persons per million, and Birmigham, England is the top city where this surname is found.

North America

Europe

Click on thumbnail for larger image

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can

get greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

·        Database of Surnames in the Netherlands

·        Database of Surnames in Belgium

·        Names Distribution in France

·        Map of the surname: Austria

·        Distribution of Surnames in Spain

·        Map of the Surname: Switzerland

·        Distribution of Surnames in Italy

Historical Distribution of this Surname

The main value in historical surname distribution databases and maps is that they enable genealogists to pinpoint the predominant location of a surname. This can quickly narrow down your search for a BDM certificate.  Knowing where to look is half the battle to finding ancestry records; if you can narrow down the search field it can save you a lot of time and trouble.  The core of historical surname distribution is that most people stayed within a fairly close locale.  Concentrations of surnames are clearly visible on Surname Distribution Maps, and name distribution tables (along with an atlas) make it quite likely that the origin of that name is from the area of its highest concentration.

The following “historical locations” for the FORSTER surname and some of its close variant spellings have been primarily extracted from either Burke’s The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, Rietstap’s Armorial General, or J. Siebmacher's Great and General Armorial.   These books were published in the mid-19^th Century and revised thereafter.  The information therein is relevant to that period as well as earlier times as far back as 1500.   Most of the locations cited by Riestap, and Siebmacher are on the continent of Europe such as Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.        

(2) = the frequency with which this place occurs.

We recommend that you utilize our Tools for Finding Ancestral Locations.  If you have an elementary knowledge of heraldry you may wish to use this practice to trace your founding forefather.  For more information about this approach to seeking out your ancestral locations see our Using Heraldry as a Family History Research Tool.  

·        Great Britain Family Names - 1881 Census

·        England and Wales: 1891 Census

·        Scotland: 1891 Census

·        Distribution of surnames in Ireland in 1890

·        Family Name Distribution in Germany: 1942

·        Nom de famille en France: 1891-1915; 1916-40; 1941-65; 1966-90

·        United States: 1920

Armorial Bearings, Mottoes & Symbols

An Introduction to

 European Heraldry

Gallery of Images

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Heraldry as a Family

History Research Tool

Motto(es) Associated

 With This Surname

An Introduction To European Heraldry

     The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short.  A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.    The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

     The seeds of heraldic structure in personal identification can be detected in the account in a contemporary chronicle of Henry I of England, on the occasion of his knighting his son-in-law Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, in 1127. He placed to hang around his neck a shield painted with golden lions. The funerary enamel of Geoffrey (died 1151), dressed in blue and gold and bearing his blue shield emblazoned with gold lions, is the first recorded depiction of a coat of arms.

       By the middle of the 12th century, coats of arms were being inherited by the children of armigers (persons entitled to use a coat of arms) across Europe. Between 1135 and 1155, seals representing the generalized figure of the owner attest to the general adoption of heraldic devices in England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.  By the end of the century, heraldry appears as the sole device on seals.  In England, the practice of using marks of cadency arose to distinguish one son from another: the conventions became standardized in about 1500, and are traditionally supposed to have been devised by John Writhe.

     In the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, heraldry became a highly developed discipline, regulated by professional officers of arms. As its use in jousting became obsolete, coats of arms remained popular for visually identifying a person in other ways – impressed in sealing wax on documents, carved on family tombs, and flown as a banner on country homes. The first work of heraldic jurisprudence, De Insigniis et Armis, was written in the 1350s by Bartolus de Saxoferrato, a professor of law at the University of Padua.

    In the Germanic areas of Central Europe heraldry spread to the German burgher class in the 13th century, and even some peasants used arms in the 14th century.  A German coat of arms is usually referred to by any of the following terms; Wappen, Familienwappen, Blasonierung, Heraldik, or Wappenschablonen.

     In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.  In Scottish heraldry, the Lord Lyon King of Arms in the Act of 1672 is empowered to grant arms to "vertuous [virtuous] and well deserving persons."

     Although heraldry in France and the lowlands of Belguim and Holland had a considerable history, like England, existing from the eleventh century, such formality has largely died out in these locations. The role of the herald (héraut) in France declined in the seventeenth century.  Many of the terms in international heraldry come from French.

Gallery of Images

Our galleries contain full-sized images of Coats-of Arms that pertain to the surnames of our direct ancestral lineage.   As most surnames have many variant spellings we suggest that you also view the galleries of our other two sub-sites as they make have a surname that is similar or has a slightly different spelling that the one you are researching

Use this LINK to find images of many unique coat-of-arms in a wide

variety of surnames many of them not found anywhere else on the internet.

Descriptions of the Armorial Bearings

Descriptions of the Arms

Copyright @ 2013-14

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armoire, Rietstap’s Armorial General or J. Siebmacher's Great and General Armorial.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings we’ve identified from the aforementioned sources. 

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

When reading the following descriptions of these armorial bearings you may come across a term that you would like to know more about. 

As such we recommend you utilize this LINK BUTTON to locate additional information within the classic resource book originally published by James Parker and Company in 1894.

In addition to an image of the selected Armorial Bearings, presented below, we have divided each into three specific areas of content.  They are:

About the Proprietor:  A coat-of-arms design is usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname. Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  Therefore the descriptive narratives below generally refer to this person as the “proprietor”.   The information given within the category primarily focuses upon the name of the proprietor, when the armorial bearings were granted, and by whom, as well as where he was seated.    

Blazoning the Arms:  In heraldry a blazon is a formal description of the coat of arms, from which the reader can reconstruct an appropriate image.  Primarily our blazons will focus upon a description of the shield, crest and mantling, as well as a motto, if known.  We attempt to construct our blazons utilizing current-day  terminology for better comprehension.  

Interpreting the Arms:  Heraldry symbols such as the colors, lines and shapes found on coats-of-arms are generally referred to as charges.  Although there is some debate over whether or not the charges have any universal symbolism many persons do believe they may represent an idea or skill of the person who originally had the armorial bearings created.  If this assumption has any validity charges may provide clues to early family history of that person. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bishop of Devonshire

Bishop of Dorsetshire

Bishop of Warwickshire

Bishop of Worcestershire

Bishoppe of Somerset

Bisshopp of Sussex

Bishop of Devonshire

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor: These arms have been attributed to a Bishop who was seated at Crediton, a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England.

Blazoning the Arms: A red shield holds three white lozenges each charged with a black pheon.   The positioning of the lozenges with regard to whether the are arranged as a bend, fesse, or pale is not known.  It is not known whether any crest or motto is associated with these arms.

Interpreting the Arms: A pheon represents the head of an arrow.  It is barbed, and engrailed on the inner side and is usually positioned with the point downward.  The pheon denotes dexterity and nimble wit; readiness for battle. It is noted that the design of these arms is significantly different from the others we’ve depicted.  As such one might conclude a distant or no family relationship with the Bishops’ identified herein.

Bishop of Dorsetshire

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor: These armorial bearings belonged to Bishop from the counties of Dorset and neighboring Somerset.  Both are located in South West England.  The same arms have also been attributed to Bishop of Norfolk, a county in the East of England.  Although it is not clear as to the Norfolk arms have a different crest one may conclude that the two are of the same ancestry.

Blazoning the Arms:  The shield is white with a red bend cottised.  On the bend are three gold bezants.  The crest features an eagle's head (erased) with a red beak.  The head is partitioned per fesse gold and red.  It is not known whether any motto is associated with these arms.

Interpreting the Arms: The bend cottised as depicted on these arms represents the scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; and it signifies defense or protection.  The eagle was a symbol born by men of action, occupied with high and weighty affairs. It was given to those of lofty spirit, ingenuity, speed in comprehension, and discrimination in matters of ambiguity.  The eagle is also associated with the sun.  As a Christian symbol, the eagle represents salvation, redemption and resurrection.

Bishop of Warwickshire

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor: These arms were granted to Anthony Bishop, who held the Bordesley manor in the parish of Oxhill located in Warwickshire, England.   Anthony was the son of John Bishop of Braylcs, and the grandson of George Bishop.  These three generations are known to have been seated in Warwickshire during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. 

Blazoning the Arms: These arms feature a white shield with a red bend cottised black.  On the bend are three gold bezants.  It is not known whether any crest or motto is associated with these arms.

Interpreting the Arms:  The design of these arms follow the basic design utilized in the previous and following coats of arms. The color red is commonly found in Bishop armorial bearings.  Red, in heraldry, may represents a warrior or martyr as well as military strength and magnanimity.  That the cottised line is black rather than red is minor difference.   Thus one may conclude that these Bishops’ are of the same ancestral lineage.  

Bishop of Worcestershire

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor: The Bishop of these arms was seated at Evesham in Worcestershire, England.

Blazoning the Arms: The shield is white with a red bend cottised.  On the bend are three gold bezants.  The crest features a black griffin's head with a gold beak, coming out of a mural crown.   It is not known whether any motto is associated with these arms.

Interpreting the Arms:   The shield is of the same design and color as seen with Bishop of Sussex and Dorsetshire with the only difference found in the crest.  This is common as the crest is usually designed to distinguish between various family members such as father, son, or brother.   The griffin is a mythical creature, with the head, wings and talons of an eagle and the body and hind legs of a lion.  The griffin was thought to find and guard mines of gold and hidden treasures. It is a distinctive feature of the griffin is that it has ears, which are large and stand up from its head.  This is the only feature that differentiates a griffin’s head from an eagle’s.

Bishoppe of Somerset

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor: These armorial bearing were granted to a Bishoppe of Bristol in Somersetshire, England.  This person may have been Edmond Bishoppe, or one of his descendents.  During the 17^th century, Edmond Bishoppe was the Sergeant of Mace and Minister to the Tolsey Court at Bristol.

Blazoning the Arms: The field of this shield is ermine and hold a red bend cottised with three golden bezants.  The crest is a silver or white griffin (sejant), resting the dexter claw on an escutcheon of the same color.  It is not known whether any motto is associated with these arms.

Interpreting the Arms: Ermine represents the fur coat of a weasel.  The mere fact that a shield or crest contains furs suggests a mark of dignity.   The griffin can be found in all sorts of positions. The sejant position represents Justice, and is defined as sitting, with the head in head in profile.  The open wings suggest a female griffin whose wings are always depicted in an open position.

Bisshopp of Sussex

LINK to full-size image

About the Proprietor:  This coat of arms was granted to Sir Thomas Bishopp, (1550–1626).  Bishopp was created a knight by King James I in 1603, and became the 1st Baronet of Parham in the County of Sussex in 1620.  His son Henry Bishopp, (1611–1691), was a Postmaster General of England and inventor of the first postmark used on mail.  The Bishopp Baronetcy was an hereditary baronetcy in the Baronetage of England that became extinct in 1871.  From around 1780 the name was sometimes also spelled Bisshopp.

Blazoning the Arms: The shield is white with a red bend cottised.  On the bend are three gold bezants.  The crest shows a silver or white griffin (sejant), resting the dexter claw on an escutcheon of the same color, all on a ducal crown of gold.  The motto of the Bishopp Baronets was “Pro Deo et ecclesiâ”, translated as “For God and the Church.”

Interpreting the Arms: The bezant was the coin of Byzantium.  It is represented by a gold roundel, a roundel being a general name applied to any circular charges of color or metal. It is thought that the bezant, also sometimes called a talent, was introduced into armory at the time of the Crusades. It is the emblem of justice and of equal dealing among people. The sign of the bezant is borne by those deemed worthy of trust and treasure.

Heraldry as a Family History Research Tool

Wondering whether you are descended of the nobility*?  Are you aware of an ancestor who held a prominent political position or had a title such as Sir, or Esquire?  If so you just might be descended from royalty.   If you are of European descent, you are probably a descendant of Charlemagne.  Once you are able to prove your line of descent from him, you will then find thousands of links to other royalty in your list of relatives.  It is rare indeed that the genealogy of a person of European descent, when traceable, doesn’t hit nobility somewhere.  And once it hits one European noble, whether you like it or not, hundreds of new names will become a part of your family.

*The nobility is a class of people who had special political and social status. Nobility is inherited or granted by the Crown as a reward to people who perform a heroic deed, achieve greatness in some endeavor, or hold a prominent government position.

    If you have an elementary knowledge of heraldry you may wish to use this practice to trace your founding forefather.  If you know the geographical place (country, county, city) where the family coat-of-arms was first identified, you may well search its history for the family name in question in order to find your direct ancestor.  Remember that most noble European family pedigrees have been thoroughly researched and published.   By putting together the family surname with the known location you may find a treasure trove of valuable information about your ancestors.  Upon pursing your research you should be aware of the possibility of variant spellings of the surname.  See Variations of the Surname for more information about variant spellings of the surname.

Many family historians who have not connected with a noble ancestor may just want to know what their family coat-of-arms looks like.  If this is the situation you must know that except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  As a result you are advised to seek out a coat-of-arms for the locale where your ancestor resided.

For example: we have an Arnold ancestor who is known to have emigrated to America from the town of Erlangen, in Bavaria, Germany.  Current research shows Erlangen is located in the area of Bavaria known as Middle Franconia.  Upon review of the historic locations for Arnold as noted in one source of armorial bearings we find places in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands and others.   One coat-of-arms is listed as belonging to an Arnold of Franconia, Bavaria.  As such we may conclude that this is the coat-of-arms having some relevance to our ancestor.  He may well be a blood relative of the aforementioned noble Arnold.   He or his ancestor may have been employed by or a serf of the noble Arnold family of that locale.  In some cases the name of the noble family becomes the name of the locale resulting in the ancestor appropriating it a as surname, see Sources and Meanings of the Surname to ascertain whether the surname you are interested in is a locational name.

Some Resources for Locating Nobility

·     Austria-Hungary - untitled nobility

·     Austrian nobility

·     Baltic nobility

·     Bavarian noble families

·     Belgium noble families

·     Croatian nobility

·     Dutch noble families

·     Dutch Noble Family Names, 1814 to Present

·     France – House of Bourbon

·     French nobility – present remaining families

·     Holy Roman Empire – German nobility

·     Holy Roman Empire - nobility (1)

·     Holy Roman Empire – nobility (2)

·     Holy Roman Empire - noble families

·     Hungarian noble families

·     Lithuanian nobility

·     Medieval European Nobility

·     Normandy nobility

·     Norway Aristocracy

·     Polish nobility coats of arms

·     Polish noble families – Barons

·     Polish noble families - Counts

·     Polish noble families - Marquess

·     Scottish nobility

·     Swedish noble families

·     Swiss nobility

If you are interested in the armorial bearings of a particular surname we strongly advise that you utilize the resources provided within this area of our web page.  If you have any questions or need any assistance with regard to using heraldry as a means to further or widen your family history research you are welcome to contact us, see About This Webpage.

Mottoes of this Surname

Mottoes associated with this surname

British Isles

A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.   

Germany

It is unusual to find a motto associated with the coat-of-arms of a noble of the European continent especially a German family.  This does not necessarily mean that the Germanic culture is devoid of mottos.  For example, the national motto of Germany is “Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit”, meaning Unity and Justice and Freedom.  The German word for motto is “Wahlspruch.”   Some of the more well known German mottoes are as follows: Alte Wunden bluten leicht – Old wounds readily bleed anew;    Blut und Eisen – Blood and iron;  Das beste is gut genug – The best is good enough;  Ein’ feste Burg is unser Gott – Our God is a strong tower of defense;  Ewigkeit – Eternity;  Für Gott und Iht – All for God and her;  Gott is überall – God is over all;  Gott mit uns – God is with us;  Ich dien – I serve;  Krieg – War;  Mehr Licht! – More light!;  Nichts zoviel – Nothing in excess;  Prosit! – Good luck!;    Vaterland – Fatherland;  Vertrau’ auf Gott – Put your trust in God;  Vorwärts! – Forward!;        Zu dienen – At your service.

France

French phrases adopted as mottos, have a certain air of chivalry and perhaps a distinctly feudal sense of duty and allegiance. French mottos are more indicative of the warrior culture of the Middle Ages. Some of these phrases, however, are translations of better known Latin mottos, such as Toujours fidèle for Semper fidelis. Some of these phrases are often found in Old French spelling.  Examples of some well known French mottoes are as follows: Aimez loyaulté - Love loyalty;  Boutez en avant - Push forward;  C’est la seule vertu qui donne la noblesse - Virtue alone confers nobility;  Droit à chacun - To each his right;  En Dieu est ma foy - In God is my faith;  Foy pour devoir - Faith for duty;  Garde la foy - Keep the faith;  Inébranlable - Not to be shaken;  J’ai bonne cause - I have good reason;  Loyauté sans tache - Loyalty without defect;  Maintien le droit - Support the right;  Ni dessus, ni dessous - Neither above nor below;  Oublier ne puis - I cannot forget;  Parle bien ou parle rien - Speak well or say nothing;  Rien sans Dieu - Nothing without God;  Suivez raison - Follow reason;  Tachez surpasser en vertue - Strive to surpass in virtue;  Un Dieu, un roy, un foy - One God, one king, one faith;  Veilliez et ne craignez pas - Watch and fear not.

Searching for more information about heraldry? Click on the button at the  right to look at our webpage featuring links   to   websites   with  

a wide variety of arms, crests, and badges.  They may also feature additional heraldry resources as noted in the accompanying descriptions.

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Our Ancestral Lineage

Family History

Ancestral Lineage

Source Documents

Migrations of the

American Family

Ancestral Locations

Family Images Gallery

Family History

             We have traced our Bishop family lineage back to Nicholas Bishop, Sr.   It is believed that he was born around 1688 but the location is unknown.  What we do know is that he was living in New Castle County, Delaware as early as 1711 when he married Dorcas Sinex, (nee?), widow of James Sinex.  Nicholas and Dorcas produced at least six off-spring between about 1712 and 1723.   Nicholas married a second time in 1741 to Hester Smith.  Hester is probably the wife named as Elizabeth in Nicholas’s 1745 Will.

     Our line traces through Nicholas Bishop, Jr. who was born in New Castle County around 1725.   Around 1750 he married Hannah Bracken, a native of New Castle County and daughter of Thomas Bracken and Martha Green.   Seven children were born to Nicholas and Hannah between 1750 and 1764.  Sometime around 1765-66 Nicholas and his young family joined the throng of Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania that migrated to the uplands of western South Carolina along the Catawba River.  They settled in an area in the Camden District that would in 1785 become Chester County, South Carolina.  This property was along Rocky Creek located just northeast of the town of Chester.  At least four of his sons, including Nicholas III fought in the Revolutionary War.  The Bishop family’s involvement was so pronounced that the Nicholas’s home was seized by the Tories and burned to the ground.

     Nicholas Bishop, III born in Pennsylvania was about six years old when he accompanied the family to South Carolina.   Nicholas is recognized as a Patriot of the American Revolution having served as a Private in the South Carolina Militia.  Around 1776-77 he volunteered for a three-month tour before he was of sufficient age to be required by law to do duty.  Nicholas lived in Chester District (County) until some time after the Revolutionary War.   Around 1785 Nicholas married Jane Dickson the daughter of Michael Dickson and Sarah Neely.   About 1789 Nicholas removed to the newly created Pendleton now Anderson County that was formed as a result of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785 by which the Cherokee Indians relinquished their lands to the State of South Carolina.   He later acquired lands, in the vicinity of Pendleton, South Carolina along Twenty Three Mile Creek and Gaven's Creek.   Nicholas lived the remainder of his days at the same location in Pendleton County that became Anderson County in 1826.  It is believed that that Bishop family plantation was located in the area of present day Garvin Township in Anderson County.  It appears that Nicholas's plantation was fairly prosperous.  The Bishops, while not of the wealth and high social prominence of many of their neighbors were among the earlier residents of Pendleton and were good, substantial citizens, well regarded in the community.

     Our 4^th great-grandmother Nancy Dickson Bishop, born in 1802, was the youngest child of Nicholas and Jane Bishop.  Nancy, who in the month of February, 1817, before she was quite fifteen years of age, had the temerity to marry the stern and difficult Scot, John Douglass, and to come with him into the undeveloped region of what is now McMinn County, Tennessee, an area then but recently acquired from the Cherokee Indians by the Hiawassee Purchase.  Whatever she may have lacked in experience before her marriage must soon have been made up, for she bore John a generous family of nine children before she died, in October, 1843, at the age of forty-one.  Our descendancy continues through Nancy and John Douglass’s daughter Sarah Rebecca Douglass born 1829 in McMinn County.

Ancestral Lineage

Additional information about the persons in our database  as   well  as   a   complete  listing   of

individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

NICHOLAS¹ BISHOP SR. was born about 1688. He died in 1745 in New Castle County, Delaware. He married (1) DORCAS BISHOP (NEE?) about 1711 in New Castle County, Delaware. She was born about 1692 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware. She died in 1723 in New Castle County, Delaware. He married (2) HESTER "ELIZABETH" SMITH on 01 Jan 1741 in Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware.

Nicholas Bishop Sr. and Dorcas Bishop (nee?) had the following children:

i.      ELIZABETH² BISHOP.

ii.    MARY BISHOP was born in 1713 in New Castle County, Delaware. She died in 1786 in New Castle County, Delaware. She married James "Jacob" Springer, son of Carl Christopher Springer and Maria Hendrichsdotter in 1732 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware. He was born in 1703 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware. He died in 1763 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware.

iii.   HENRY BISHOP was born in 1716 in New Castle County, Delaware. He married Mary Hedges about 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware?. She was born about 1715.

iv.   JOHN BISHOP was born on 06 Oct 1718 in New Castle County, Delaware. He married Elizabeth Jordan on 01 Jun 1746 in (Old Swedes Church) Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware.

v.    SUSANNA BISHOP was born on 24 Jan 1721 in New Castle County, Delaware. She died after 1745.

vi.    NICHOLAS BISHOP JR. was born about 1723 in New Castle County, Delaware ?. He died on 29 Aug 1786 in Camden District, Chester Co., South Carolina. He married Hannah Bracken, daughter of Thomas Bracken and Martha Green about 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware?. She was born about 1728 in New Castle County, Delaware. She died in Hopkins County, Kentucky?.

NICHOLAS² BISHOP JR. (Nicholas¹ Sr.) was born about 1723 in New Castle County, Delaware ?. He died on 29 Aug 1786 in Camden District, Chester Co., South Carolina. He married Hannah Bracken, daughter of Thomas Bracken and Martha Green about 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware ?. She was born about 1728 in New Castle County, Delaware. She died in Hopkins County, Kentucky ?.

Nicholas Bishop Jr. and Hannah Bracken had the following children:

i.      HENRY³ BISHOP was born about 1750 in Delaware. He died in Dec 1780 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He married ELIZABETH HENRY.

ii.    WILLIAM BISHOP was born in 1755 in Pennsylvania. He died in 1836 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He married HANNAH BISHOP (NEE?). She died before 1834 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

iii.   DORCAS BISHOP was born about 1758.

iv.   NICHOLAS BISHOP III was born in 1760 in Pennsylvania. He died on 18 Nov 1843 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina. He married Jane Dickson, daughter of Michael Dickson and Sarah Neely about 1785 in Chester District, South Carolina. She was born in 1758 in South Carolina. She died on 17 Aug 1842 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina.

v.      JAMES BISHOP was born about 1762 in Pennsylvania. He died in 1823 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He married MARTHA CARTER. She was born about 1760 in Chester District, South Carolina?. She died after 1824 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

vi.   HANNAH BISHOP was born about 1763 in Pennsylvania.

vii.  JOHN BISHOP was born about 1764 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He died in 1852 in Chester County, South Carolina.  

NICHOLAS³ BISHOP III (Nicholas²  Jr., Nicholas¹  Sr.) was born in 1760 in Pennsylvania. He died on 18 Nov 1843 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina. He married Jane Dickson, daughter of Michael Dickson and Sarah Neely about 1785 in Chester District, South Carolina. She was born in 1758 in South Carolina. She died on 17 Aug 1842 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina.

Nicholas Bishop III and Jane Dickson had the following children:

                                                              i.      SARAH ANN⁴ BISHOP was born in 1788 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died in 1863 in Pickens County, Alabama. She married John Robert Henderson, son of Daniel Henderson and Anne Brown on 23 Sep 1817 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was born in 1796 in York County, South Carolina. He died in Oct 1868 in Pickens County, Alabama.

                                        ii.    HENRY NEELY BISHOP was born on 17 Dec 1791 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He died on 19 Nov 1869 in Brenham, Washington Co., Texas. He married Hannah Long, daughter of Gabriel Long and Mary Latimer in 1820 in Pendleton County, South Carolina. She was born on 22 Dec 1792 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. She died on 25 Apr 1834 in Greene County, Alabama.

                                       iii.    ELIZABETH BISHOP was born on 04 Sep 1793 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died on 20 Jun 1844 in Pickensville, Pickens Co., South Carolina. She married James Franklin Henderson Sr. on 12 Mar 1816 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was born on 15 Feb 1795 in York County, South Carolina. He died on Aug 1861 in Brushy Creek, Anderson Co., Texas.

                                       iv.    JANE BISHOP was born on 22 Sep 1795 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died on 11 Feb 1881 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina.

                                        v.    JOHN BISHOP was born about 1798 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He died on Nov 1828 in Pendleton District, South Carolina.

                                       vi.    DORCAS BISHOP was born on 06 Sep 1800 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died on 10 Sep 1868 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina.

                                     vii.    NANCY DICKSON BISHOP was born on 31 May 1802 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died on 30 Oct 1843 in Cog Hill, McMinn Co., Tennessee. She married John Douglass, son of Robert Douglass Jr. and Elizabeth Robertson on 20 Feb 1817 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was born on 09 Mar 1793 in Sevier County, Tennessee. He died on 07 Apr 1863 in Cog Hill, McMinn Co., Tennessee.

NANCY DICKSON⁴ BISHOP (Nicholas³ III, Nicholas² Jr., Nicholas¹ Sr.) was born on 31 May 1802 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She died on 30 Oct 1843 in Cog Hill, McMinn Co., Tennessee. She married John Douglass, son of Robert Douglass Jr. and Elizabeth Robertson on 20 Feb 1817 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was born on 09 Mar 1793 in Sevier County, Tennessee. He died on 07 Apr 1863 in Cog Hill, McMinn Co., Tennessee.

John Douglass and Nancy Dickson Bishop had the following children:

i.        WILLIAM⁵ DOUGLASS was born on 21 May 1819 in Tennessee. He died before 1884.

ii.      ELIZABETH JANE DOUGLASS was born on 07 Feb 1824 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died on 24 Dec 1896 in Cleveland, Bradley Co., Tennessee. She married Ezekiel Bates, son of James Alexander Bates and Mary Murphy on 17 May 1847 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He was born on 14 Oct 1792. He died on 14 Jun 1864 in Cleveland, Bradley Co., Tennessee.

iii.     MARY LETITIA DOUGLASS was born on 22 Aug 1824 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died in Apr 1857 in Riesel, McLennan Co., Texas. She married Asahel Carlock, son of Isaac Carlock and Sarah Rucker on 26 Jan 1842 in McMinn Co., Tennessee. He was born in 1825. He died in Nov 1856 in Polk County, Missouri.

iv.     HUGH DICKSON DOUGLASS was born on 06 Jan 1827 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He died in 1862. He married Cynthia Emaline Lee, daughter of John Lee and Jane Rogers about 1855 in Tennessee. She was born on 07 Dec 1839 in Polk County, Tennessee. She died on 04 Nov 1921 in Sweetwater, Monroe Co., Tennessee.

v.      SARAH REBECCA DOUGLASS was born on 04 Feb 1829 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died on 21 Mar 1913 in Los Angeles County, California. She married William Calvin Rhodes on 27 Apr 1848 in Athens, McMinn Co., Tennessee. He was born in Mar 1820 in Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee. He died in 1888 in frontier between Texas and Mexico.

vi.     NANCY MATILDA DOUGLASS was born on 24 Jul 1831 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died after 1867. She married (1) CAYNEL LEE on 02 Aug 1849. He died before 1865. She married (2) JOSEPH SMITH about 1867.

vii.   ELIZA CAROLINE DOUGLASS was born on 10 Mar 1834 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died on 06 Aug 1919 in Cleveland, Bradley Co., Tennessee. She married James Henderson Rucker on 23 Apr 1858 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He was born about 1832 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He died on 19 Apr 1884 in Cleveland, Bradley Co., Tennessee.

viii.  JULIA ANN DORCAS DOUGLASS was born on 11 Nov 1836 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She died on 23 Jul 1879. She married William Marion Cass on 01 Jan 1857 in McMinn Co., Tennessee.

ix.     JOHN ELLIS DOUGLASS was born on 24 Jan 1839 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He died on 19 Aug 1860 in Cog Hill, McMinn Co., Tennessee.

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Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   We have source documents related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

·         Bishop - An Account of the Douglass, Bishop, & Dickson Families

·         Bishop - Land Transactions, Anderson Co., SC, 1798-1843

·         Bishop - Roster of S.C. American Revolution Patriots

·         Hannah Bracken Bishop - 1800 Census

·         Henry N. Bishop - 1820 Census

·         Jane & Dorcas Bishop - 1850 Census

·         Jane & Dorcas Bishop - 1860 Census

·         Jane Bishop - 1850 Census (Slave Schedule)

·         Jane Bishop - 1860 Census (Slave Schedule)

·         Jane Bishop - 1870 Census

·         Jane Bishop - 1879 Deed of Sale

·         Jane Bishop - 1880 Census

·         Jane Bishop - 1881 Will

·         Jane Bishop – Headstone

·         Jane DICKSON Bishop - foot stone

·         Jane DICKSON Bishop – Headstone

·         John Bishop - 1850 Census

·         John Bishop - Rev. War Pension App. (Will Graves Transcript)

·         John Bishop - Rev. War Pension App.(Original pgs.)

·         John Bishop - Rev. War Pension App.(Transcription)

·         Nancy BISHOP Douglass – headstone

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1790 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1800 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1810 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1820 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1830 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III - 1840 Census

·         Nicholas Bishop III – Headstone

·         Nicholas Bishop III -1836 Rev. War Pension Application

·         Nicholas Bishop, III - DAR Marker

·         Nicholas Bishop, Jr. -  1787 Will Transcript

·         Nicholas Bishop, Jr. - Rev. War Patriotic Service

·         Nicholas Bishop, Jr. - Revolutionary War Patriot  (Ellet)

·         Sarah Ann Bishop Henderson - 1860 Census

·         William Bishop - Rev. War Pension App. (Original pgs.)

·         William Bishop - Rev. War Pension App.(Transcription)

This Link will take you to our

archive of source documents.  

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.

Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of BISHOP, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Some of these immigrants were: Daniel Bishop who settled in Virginia in 1663; Henry Bishop settled in Maryland in 1633; Joseph Bishop in Virginia in 1644; Thomas Bishop settled in the Barbados with his wife and servants in 1680.

American Migration(s) of the BISHOP Family

     It is known that the Bishop family lived in the northern part of New Castle County, Delaware during the first half of the 18^th century.  Nicholas Bishop, Jr. was most likely born in the Mill Creek Hundred of that county around 1725.

     Sometime around 1765-66 Nicholas, Jr. and his young family joined the throng of Pennsylvania Scots-Irish that migrated to the uplands of western South Carolina along the Catawba River.  The most probable route from the locales around Philadelphia to that area of South Carolina was the Great Wagon Road. 

     The Bishop family settled in an area in the Camden District that would in 1785 become Chester County, South Carolina.  This property was along Rocky Creek located just northeast of the town of Chester.  It is interesting to note here that the good folks of this area chose to name their new county and county seat after Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Click on map for larger image

     About 1789 Nicholas, III, son of the aforementioned Nicholas, Jr. moved with his father-in-law Michael Dickson to the newly created Pendleton County that was formed as a result of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785 by which the Cherokee's relinquished their lands to the State of South Carolina.   In the 1790 census of heads of families, the first U. S. Census, Nicholas Bishop III is shown as a resident of Ninety-Six District, Pendleton County.  He later acquired lands along Three and Twenty Creek and Garven's Creek, in the vicinity of Pendleton. Subsequent census documents between 1800 and 1840 show him and his family living at the same location in Pendleton County that was to become Anderson County in 1826.  It is believed that that Bishop family plantation was located in the area of present day Garvin Township in Anderson County.

     Nancy Dickson Bishop, daughter of the aforementioned Nicholas, III, married John Douglass in 1817, and moved with him into the undeveloped region of what is now McMinn County, Tennessee, an area then but recently acquired from the Cherokee Indians by the Hiawassee Purchase.    Here Nancy and John Douglass raised a family at their farm located near Cog Hill on the Conasauga Creek.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND

UNITED STATES

DELAWARE

New Castle

SOUTH CAROLINA

Anderson;   Chester

TENNESSEE

McMinn

Use this LINK to find out more about this

ancestral family and the locations listed above.

Where are my

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources 

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

Images gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.  We have images related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

·        Bishop -  Family Plot, Old Stone Church

·        Bishops Branch Road (Anderson Co., SC)

·        Dorcas Bishop – Headstone

·        Nicholas Bishop plantation 1789-1881 (likely location)

·        Nicholas Bishop, III -  Foot stone

·        Old Stone Church

This Link will take you to our

collection of family images.  

Use the power of Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. This button will link you to the Google Images Search   page.   Enter   the   topic   you   are

searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

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-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 April  2014