GUISE

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Guise

Guise is a British surname of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word "guis" meaning "pledge" or "hostage". The surname is believed to have been introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Origins:

The Guise surname is most commonly associated with the historical Guise family of France, who played a prominent role in French politics and history during the Renaissance period.

Distribution:

The Guise surname is relatively rare in Britain, with most occurrences found in areas with historical links to France or Normandy.

Notable Individuals:

Mary Guise: (1515 – 1560) – Mary of Guise was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as the Regent of Scotland during her daughter's minority.
François de Lorraine, Duke of Guise: (1519 – 1563) – Leader of the powerful Guise family in France and a key figure in the French Wars of Religion.

Variations:

Variants of the Guise surname include Guize and De Guise.

The Guise surname carries with it a rich history and a connection to important figures in French and British history.

There are approximately 838 people named Guise in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,484th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Guise.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Andrew
Anselm
Ashley
Christopher
David
John
Matthew
Michael
Paul
Richard
Stephen
Steven
Thomas

Female

Caroline
Deborah
Elizabeth
Emma
Helen
Margaret
Maureen
Michelle
Nicola
Rebecca
Ruth
Sarah
Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.