Tussaine

This interesting and unusual surname has two possible origins; firstly, it may be a nickname for someone of a fiery temperament, deriving from the Old French "tison" meaning firebrand. Secondly, it may be a dialectal variant of the name Dyson, a metronymic of the pet name "Dye", from the medieval female given name "Dennis", itself coming from the Latin personal name "Dionysius" meaning follower of Dionysis, an eastern god introduced to the classical pantheon at a relatively late date, and bearing a name of probably Semitic origin. The surname dates back to the late 11th Century (see below), whilst early recordings include Adam Tisun (1130) in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, and Gilbert Tuison of Nottingham in 1332. Later Church Records list the christening of Richard, son of Roger and Ellen Tison, on December 21st 1564 at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington, Elizabeth Tussaine at St Mary Whitechapel on February 2nd 1669 and John Tuson, with his wife Hannah, witnesses at St Mary Whitechapel, London, on April 9th 1674. A Coat of Arms granted to nameholders has the blazon of a green field charged with a gold lion rampant crowned. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Tison, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Nottinghamshire, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.