Thiessen History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of ThiessenWhat does the name Thiessen mean? The Thiessen family name is thought to be of Norman origins. It comes from an early member of the family who was a fiesty or hot-tempered person. The name is a metaphor derived from the Old French word tison meaning fire-brand. Alternatively the name could have originated from "Tesson or Taisson, the Norman-French for badger." 1 Early Origins of the Thiessen familyThe surname Thiessen was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat from early times, where the name originally was Tesson, one of the most powerful families in Normandy seated at Angouleme. Their history is French more than Viking and they distinguished themselves against the Saracens in 725. They were later seated at Anjou and Raoul Tesson the first Lord of Cingueleiz led 120 knights at Val-Des-Dunes in 1047. Gilbert Tesson, his brother, obtained the barony of Alnwick from King Edward the Confessor, England's Saxon King, and was killed at the Battle of Hastings, fighting on the Saxon side. 2 Early History of the Thiessen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thiessen research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1651, 1680 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Thiessen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Thiessen Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Tyson, Tesson, Tewson, Tiuson, Tison, Dyson and many more. Early Notables of the Thiessen familyAnother 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Thiessen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Thiessen RankingIn the United States, the name Thiessen is the 12,501st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Thiessen is ranked the 469th most popular surname with an estimated 10,172 people with that name. 4
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Thiessen or a variant listed above: Thiessen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Thiessen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
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