Bysshe

Bysshe is a rarely used English given name that has also appeared as a surname in historical records. It is best known today as the middle name of the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), a central figure in the movement and a prolific writer.

The exact origin of Bysshe is not definitively documented. It is generally viewed as a family surname that was adopted as a given name in some English families, a pattern common in the 18th and 19th centuries when surnames were often used as middle names to preserve family connections or inherit legacy.

Notable bearers include Percy Bysshe Shelley, whose full name reflects the use of family names in English naming traditions. His prominence in literature has made the name Bysshe most readily associated with him, and it has seen little widespread reuse in modern naming.

In contemporary usage, Bysshe remains uncommon as a given name and is rarely encountered as a surname. There are no widely recognized variants or distinct meanings beyond its function as a proper name tied to historical and literary associations.