The name also possibly survives as Veck and Vick.

400 A.D. -1066 A.D.

There were several lines of people that already had or would later take the surname Bishop, that came into the British Isles at different times. This began with what we know today as the Anglo Saxon (Visigoth) invasions of the Jutes, Angles, Saxons and Frisians in the early 5th century and ended with the Norman Invasion of 1066.

We currently believe (but have not proven) our direct lineage came to the British Isles with the Flemish contingent of William the Conqueror in 1066 or soon there after.

We have discovered many clues in our research that lead us to believe this, including but not limited to Sir William Bishop, the elder’s original armorial bearings, the Norman/Flemish families we are intermarried with throughout our time in Scotland and our connections to early Knight Templar preceptories and activity in Scotland. Anything is possible however, and we will continue to let the research guide us where it will.

1066 A.D.

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock. Their identity emerged initially in the first half of the tenth century, and gradually evolved over succeeding centuries until they disappeared as an ethnic group in the early thirteenth century.

The name “Norman” derives from “Northmen” or “Norsemen”, after the Vikings from Scandinavia who founded Normandy (Northmannia in its original Latin).

Many of the Normans sailed across the English Channel with William (The Bastard) Duke of Normandy, who after defeating his cousin King Harald of England at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, became known as William I (The Conqueror) King of England.

Sir Guillaume Espec (Bishop) is listed with the Knights who accompanied William (The Conqueror) across the English Channel and fought with him at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066.

The Normans and Flemish came into Scotland, building castles and founding noble families who would provide some future kings such as King Robert I (The Bruce) of Scotland as well as founding some of the Scottish clans.

1125 A.D.

King David I of Scotland was instrumental in introducing Normans, Flemish and Norman culture to Scotland. During the reign of King David in 1125, the Order of the Knights Templar was established.

Hughes de Payen (Hugh the Pagen), one of the original nine founding members of the Order, petitioned King David I of Scotland, to establish a Preceptory at Torphichen, Scotland in 1130. Hughes de Payen was the brother-in-law of Sir Henry St. Clair/Sinclair the Baron of Lothian. The Barony of Torphichen was within the Barony of Lothian. The St. Clair family controlled the Barony of Lothian while the Knights Templar controlled the Barony of Torphichen.

1130 A.D. – Knights templar

Historical records from 1130 list the Knights Templar at Torphichen.

Theobald de La’Grange was Master of Torphichen. Brian Le’Jay was the Prior. William St. Clair was the Master of Arms. Andrew Levesque/Leveske (Bishop) was the Preceptor. Richard de Moubray was the Treasurer.

Torphichen Preceptory has been under the control of the Knights Hospitallar since the destruction of the original Knights Templar order in 1314.

1135 A.D.

The Leveque/Levesque (Bishop) family did not arrive into Scotland until the time of King David I of Scotland in 1135. This line of the Bishop family should not be confused with the Espec (Bishop) family who arrived in England in 1066 with William (The Conqueror).

1200’s A.D.

According to Robin Orr Blair previous Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland (February 2001-August 2007): “Our Bishop line were Saxon by origin and moved into the Nith River Valley in the 1200’s. The area was still a part of England and did not become a part of Scotland until the latter part of that century.” The Bishops in Scotland are are directly related to the Saxons in England, but branched off by the mid 1200’s.”

1265 A.D.

Sir James Bisshop was knighted. Sir James was later deemed an outlaw by Edward I, and his lands were forfeited to Simon deMontfort.

1284 A.D.

Sir John Byshop was knighted. Sir John fought at the Battle of Borough Bridge on March 16, 1322. (Sir John was captured, held for Ransom and died in 1322.)

1291 A.D.

Sir John Bisshop, Knight Templar, fought under the banner of King Edward I of England, and Donald VI Earl of Mar Scotland. For his services in the crusades, Sir John was promised lands and title. During the siege of Acre, April 6-May 18, 1291, Sir John fought as part of a Templar contingent defending the coastal city of Acre from the Mamluks fighting under Al-Ashraf Khalil, the 8th Kipchak Turkic Sultan of Egypt. Sir John Bisshop was wounded during the siege of Acre, and died of his wounds enroute to, or on the island of Malta. Sir John Bisshop was given a Templar burial on the Island of Malta.

William Bissope (Sir John Bisshop’s son) was granted lands by Donald VI, Earl of Mar in 1291. Because of the death of Sir John Bisshop, Donald VI Earl of Mar gave Sir John’s son William Bissope the lands promised to Sir John for his service in the crusade. These lands are in the vicinity of present day Mar, Scotland.

1296 A.D.

William de Bishop, of Roxsburgh, signed the Ragman Rolls.

1306 A.D.

The Bishop family backed the claim of Robert (The Bruce) Earl of Carrick/7th Lord Annandale to the throne of Scotland. Upon his ascension to the throne of Scotland on March 25, 1306.

1314 A.D. – June 23-24

Sir Andrew Levesque (Bisshop), Knights Templar and Sir James Levesque (Bisshop), Knights Templar, fought at the Battle of Bannockburn.

1319 A.D.

Sir James Levesque (Bisshop) died.

Robert I (The Bruce) King of Scotland honored the family ties, and the service of the Bisshop/Bissope family by granting the Bisshop/Bissope family land in the area of present day Midlothian and Westlothian Scotland, near Currie, Linlithgow, and Whitburn in Westlothian, Scotland.

1489 A.D. – May 23

In Midlothian, Scotland, Thomas Bishcop witnessed a land grant as listed in the Protocol Book of James Young, 1485-1489.

1494 – 1500 A.D.

Andrew Bischop was listed on the roll of the Burgess of Edinburgh and his son (heir) James Bischop was listed on the roll of the Burgesses of Edinburgh in 1494 and 1500.

1505 A.D. – March 31

In Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, Alexander Bischop witnessed a land grant for James Skelding.

1507 A.D. – November 10

In Midlothian, Scotland, a land deed for Sir George Lauder was completed at the dwelling-house of Alexander Young (Nortoune), the dwelling-house of James Bischop (Northraw) and the gate of the castle of Haltoun.

1541 A.D.

Thomas Bischop, the Elder was deeded Ochiltree Castle in Westlothian, Scotland. Thomas Bischop held Ochiltree until 1568. He also held lands in Castlemilk, Scotland.

1544 A.D.

Thomas Bischop, the Elder was a companion in arms to Matthew Stuart, 4th Earl of Lennox, on the Dumbarton campaign. Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox is the father of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, second husband to Mary Queen of Scots. For his distinguished service on this campaign, Thomas Bishop, the Elder was embraced in front of the Privy Council and rewarded by King Henry VIII of England, with Pocklington Manor in Yorkshire.

1544 A.D. – July 6

Thomas Bischop, the Elder was made Armiger to Matthew Stuart, 4th Earl of Lennox. Thomas Bishcop, the Elder, Armiger, was also made a free English citizen. Thomas Bishop, the Elder, Armiger, was given Pocklington Manor, in Yorkshire, England, and was also given free reign by King Henry VIII of England, to negotiate the marriage of Matthew Stuart, 4th Earl of Lennox and King Henry VIII’s niece Lady Margaret Douglas.

1551 A.D. – June 27

In Perth, Scotland, Patrick Bischop witnessed an agreement between Johne Creichtoun of Strathurd and William Ruthven of Ballindene, as listed in the Protocol Book of Sir Robert Rollok, 1534-1552.

1568 A.D. – December

Thomas Bischop, the Elder, Armiger, under the pen name “Tom Truth” was accused of circulating a rhyme or poem “In defense of the Queen of Scots against the Earl of Murray”. This led to Thomas being placed in the Tower of London and interrogated for a period of time in 1569.

1570 (or 1572) A.D. – March 22

On Good Friday, in Knavesmire, Newcastle, Yorkshire, England, Thomas Bischop, the Younger, of Pocklington was hanged, drawn, and quartered by Queen Elizabeth I of England, for his participation in the Northern Rebellion in 1569.

1575 A.D. – August 12

King James VI of Scotland granted a land charter to Robert Bischop, alias Huntrodes, Burgess of Edinburgh, (father of Thomas Bischop, the Elder, Armiger) and Agnes Bischop, (sister of Thomas Bischop, the Elder, Armiger).

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Sir James Bischop, the Elder

Our ancestry, as proven to the Lord Lyons court in 2003, begins with Sir James Bischop, the Elder, who was born in Mid-Lothian between 1540-1545.

One of Sir James Bischop, the Elder’s sons named Sir William Bischop, the Elder, was a Sheriff and Burgess of Edinburgh. Sir William Bischop, the Elder, married Elizabeth Ramsay, and they are the progenitors of the Bishops of Currie.

Captain John Bishop

Between 1637-1643, one of the sons of Sir William Bischop, the Elder, Captain John Bishop, came to Virginia to raise tobacco. John Bishop founded the Swan’s Bay Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia and became a Captain in Virginia House of Burgesses. Captain John Bishop sent the tobacco he raised back to Greenock, the port for Glasgow, Scotland to his brother James Bischop.

Captain John Bishop was the part owner in the ship the Golden Lyon. He is the progenitor of our line of the Bishop family.

2003 A.D. – October 29

After many years of research, our family successfully proved our Bishop family line back to Sir James Bischop, father of Sir William Bischop, the Elder, and Grandfather of Captain John Bishop. The House of Bishop was established, and our family name was recorded in the Hall of Names in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The House of Bishop successfully petitioned the Lord Lyon’s court to rematriculate the armorial bearings of Sir William Bischop, the Elder, father of Captain John Bishop, and our last ancestor to live in Scotland.

The House of Bishop also had the Bishop tartan registered and weaved, based on a four hundred year old sett.

Today, there are thousands of Bishops descended from Captain John Bishop.