Last name: Hussey
This interesting surname, chiefly found in Scotland, has a number of possible sources. Firstly, it may be of Norman origin, and locational from Houssaye, a place in Seine-Maritime, so called from the Old French "hous", holly. Locational names were originally given to the Lord of the Manor, or as a means of identification to those who had left their place of origin to settle elsewhere. Regional and dialectal differences subsequently roduced several variations of the original spelling of the name. Hosie may also belong to that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These nicknames were given with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, or to habits of dress and occupation. In this instance the derivation may be from the Old French "h(e)use", booted, originally denoting someone who wore boots of an unusual design, or it may derive from the Old English pre 7th Century "hus(e)wif", indicating a woman who was mistress of her own household. Finally, Hosie, and its variants Huss(e)y and Hosey, may be an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic Irish "O hEodhusa",descendant of Eodhus, a personal name given in bardic families. In 1177 one Walter Hose possessed the Manor of Craigie in Kyle, and on September 4th 1778, George Hosie, an infant, was christened in Cranston, Midlothian. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Hosatus, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book, during the reign of William 1, known as "William 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.
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iv tracked my family back to france in the 18 century to the village of houssay
The Scottish form of hussey is Hosie,quite rightly first recorded in Scotland in 1177 in craigie (Walter Hose)! It has said to originate in Scandinavia as Assi a form of Oswald. It is also said it came to the British isles through the Norman conquest which is true!
But there has been Viking invasions of the British isles prior to the Norman conquest there was long established families in Orkney and Shetland Hoseason (son of Oswald).
The name Hosie far outnumbers the name Hussey in Scotland so the name Hosie is chiefly found in Scotland same origin but different name!
I have the Hussey family tree going back to John Huse who was married to the aunt of the Duke Of Normandy in the C11th.
I think but I can't be sure that he became known as "William the Conqueror". So originally,at least, for my branch of the family definitely came from France: in the C17th, they farmed in Wiltshire near Salisbury and another branch lived at Mosten Bredy in Dorset. Francis Hussey.
Heres one!. South East England
My GGfather is Hussey. They were not French, Irish they were Normans.