Beiss

Beiss is a surname of German origin. The spelling without the umlaut suggests a version adapted for non-German contexts, a common practice for names during migration and in international records. The exact etymology is not definitively established in major onomastic references, but it is frequently connected with the German verb beißen, meaning to bite, or with nicknames arising from a feisty temperament or a habitual action. Variants and related surnames include Beisel, Beisser, Beissel, and Beissinger, reflecting regional spelling differences and phonetic shifts over time.

Beiss is most commonly found in German-speaking regions, including Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, as well as in communities in the United States and Canada resulting from migration. Because Beiss is relatively uncommon, no widely recognized individuals bearing the name have a dedicated entry in standard encyclopedias. The surname appears in local records and may be carried by academics, professionals, and public figures on a smaller scale.