Bishop

Bishop
This early and very interesting surname, popular throughout Europe, is of Ancient Greek, pre Christian, origins. It derives from the word "episkopos", translating as the overseer, from the elements "epi", meaning on or over, plus "skopein", to look. The early Christians adopted the word for the headman of their local communities, and from the 4th century a.d. it was applied to a religious leader. Derivatives of "episkopos" include for example "obispo", in Spanish, and "bischof" in German, and "yepiskop" in Russian.. However spelt, and there are over one hundred forms ranging from Bisp, Evesque and Vesque, to Vesco, Bischop, Yepiskopov, and Piscotti, the surname did not refer to a bishop as such. It was either occupational, and described somebody who served in the household of a bishop, or it was a nickname for 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 nameholders may well derive from that source. The earliest of all surnames and hence their recordings are in England and Germany. These date from the 12th century and examples include Thurstan le Byssop, of the county of Essex in the year 1240, and Berchtoldus Episcopus of Oberweiler, Germany, in 1296, and Haintz der Pischoffer of Tiefenbach, Germany, in 1396. The first recorded spelling of the surname anywhere in the world is believed to be that of Lefwinus Bissop, which was dated 1166, in the Pipe Rolls of the city of Nottingham, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Bishop — • The title of an ecclesiastical dignitary who possesses the fullness of the priesthood to rule a diocese as its chief pastor, in due submission to the primacy of the pope Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Bishop     Bishop …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Bishop — Bish op, n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See {Spy}, and cf. {Episcopal}.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bishop — Bishop, CA U.S. city in California Population (2000): 3575 Housing Units (2000): 1867 Land area (2000): 1.750266 sq. miles (4.533169 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.750266 sq. miles (4.533169… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Bishop — steht für: Bishop (Familienname), einen Familiennamen Bishop (Ortsname), Orte und Townships eine britische Selbstfahrlafette, siehe Bishop (Panzer) im englischen den Läufer im Schachspiel Bernice P. Bishop Museum (oder Museum für Natur und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bishop's — *Bishop Stopford s School at Enfield, England. *Bishop s University in Lennoxville, Québec, Canada. *Bishop s Stortford town in Hertfordshire , England *The Bishop s School (California) in La Jolla, California, USA. *The Bishop s School (Pune) in …   Wikipedia

  • Bishop — Bishop, John Michael * * * (as used in expressions) Bishop, Elizabeth Bishop, J(ohn) Michael Bishop, William Avery Billy Bishop …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • bishop — (n.) O.E. bisceop bishop, high priest (Jewish or pagan), from L.L. episcopus, from Gk. episkopos watcher, overseer, a title for various government officials, later taken over in a Church sense, from epi over (see EPI (Cf. epi )) + skopos watcher …   Etymology dictionary

  • Bishop, CA — U.S. city in California Population (2000): 3575 Housing Units (2000): 1867 Land area (2000): 1.750266 sq. miles (4.533169 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.750266 sq. miles (4.533169 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Bishop, GA — U.S. town in Georgia Population (2000): 146 Housing Units (2000): 67 Land area (2000): 0.775768 sq. miles (2.009231 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.775768 sq. miles (2.009231 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Bishop, TX — U.S. city in Texas Population (2000): 3305 Housing Units (2000): 1269 Land area (2000): 2.370688 sq. miles (6.140054 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.370688 sq. miles (6.140054 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • bishop — [bish′əp] n. [ME < OE bisceop < LL episcopus, an overseer (in LL(Ec), bishop) < Gr episkopos, overseer (in N.T., bishop) < epi , upon + skopos < skopein, to look (see SCOPE)] 1. a) a high ranking member of the Christian clergy… …   English World dictionary

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