What is the Proper Spelling of the Name?

The original English family name was Besbeech with several variations of the spelling. The most common, but not only form of the name today is Bisbee. There have been and still are other versions, including Bisbe, Bisbey, and Bisby. A few early families argued over it, but for the most part, differences in spelling just weren't important to them at a time when there were no birth certificates, no drivers licenses, no Social Security cards, etc. Many Individuals used different spellings in their own lifetimes. We even have an example where two brothers signed their name differently on the same legal document! The Website has made a conscious decision to use Bisbee for those in the database who have used variations in the past. If we have a modern family using a variation, we will honor it as is. Check the surname listing to see if your name is included. Please feel free to send us your corrections or additions.