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Bisbee - Besbeech Coat of Arms

The Bisbee arms are based on the arms of Biss, the related name. Bisbee means Biss's place in early English. The first syllable of the name, even if obscure in meaning, usually is the fount and origin of the name; hence Biss. There is a parallel between Wisby and Wisbach, where the first syllable may mean white hair (indicative of wise) and Bisby - Bisbeech where the first syllable may mean gray hair, or pale blue or green. D.H. Reaney supports the gray-color origin of Biss. As for the second part of the name, beech is beech-tree or stream. So the choice of the Biss coat of arms with the distinctive addition of the set-square and rule seems appropriate.

The set square and rule used by draughtsmen and other persons who draw plans, builders perhaps, may have symbolized the work of the person who first used it. They may have been intended to be blue, as horizontal lines are the traditional way of indicating this color. The rose and crown, used a lot on Old English Inn signs, date from 1487 and has red and white petals which stem from the rival dynasties of Lancaster and York in the War of Roses, green leaves, and a gold crown. This is the official badge of England, though seldom used. So the Composition has a historical basis both as to heraldry and to symbolizing England.

This information was supplied by Mr. Peter Burnard, heraldry researcher, Surrey, England.

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