Surname Bass - Meaning and Origin

Reframing My Roots: A Personal Exploration of My Bass Surname Through iGENEA DNA Testing

Taking the iGENEA DNA test was a game-changer for me. The results afforded a fresh perspective on my heritage and reshaped my understanding of the historic connotations of the Bass surname within our family identity. What was once an obscure past is now a series of vivid stories embedded in our genes.

P. Bass

Bass: What does the surname Bass mean?

The surname Bass has multiple origins. In Old English, the name derives from words like "bærs", which means “perch” or "bastard" indicating illegitimate birth. It can also be of German origin where it is derived from the personal name Sebastian. Another origin is from the Dutch word “bas” meaning “low”, which could indicate a person of short stature. Alternatively, it may be a topographic name for someone who lived near a stream known as 'bærs' in old English. In Jewish (Ashkenazic), Bass is taken from the Yiddish male personal name "Bas", meaning "brave or bold". Lastly, in Welsh, the name Bass was originally a nickname for a person with a prominent forehead, bass being a dialectal variant of 'bass' meaning 'flat'. Hence the surname Bass implies various meanings depending on its origin, including "perch", a person of short stature, a person with a flat forehead, or an illegitimate birth. It is important to look unto the individual lineage to understand the exact implication of the surname.

Bass: Where does the name Bass come from?

The surname Bass has multiple possible origins. It may have derived from the Old French 'bas', meaning 'low', used as a nickname for someone of short stature. Yet, it could also originate from the Old Norse 'bassi', a personal name, or it may be a patronymic name derived from the Hebrew name 'Bass', meaning 'daughter of'. Additionally, it could be an occupational name for a fisherman, from the Middle English 'bass', meaning 'bass' (the fish). The surname came to England with the Norman conquest in 1066.

In contemporary times, the surname Bass is common in the United States, particularly in southern states like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. It is also fairly common in England, particularly in the East Midlands region. Other countries that have the Bass surname include Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa, though it is less prevalent. Note that the distribution of the Bass surname across nations and regions can significantly vary due to factors such as migration patterns, cultural assimilation, and local naming traditions.

Variations of the surname Bass

The surname Bass is believed to have multiple origins, including English, French, and German. The English origin of Bass has variants like Base, Bassett, and Basset. Bass might also be an occupational name for someone who caught or sold fish, especially bass, so similar surnames include Fisher and Fissher.

The German version of Bass might derive from the word 'Basso' meaning short or low, hence the variations Basso, Baso, and Bassi. The French version of Bass has likely resulted in Bassot, Bauss, and Bas.

Furthermore, Bass could be an anglicized spelling of the Dutch last name Bast, which has a variant as Baast.

Jewish families with the last name Bass or similar might be derived from an acronym of a Hebrew phrase such as 'Ben Avraham Sasson' (son of Abraham Sasson), hence it is also connected to surnames Sasso and Sass.

It's also plausible that the name has been spelled phonetically over the years, resulting in variations such as Bass, Basse, or Baas. In sum, it is clear that the surname Bass is versatile with multiple ethnic origins and hence many spelling variants.

Famous people with the name Bass

• Lance Bass is an American singer, dancer, and actor, best known as a member of the pop group *NSYNC.
• Saul Bass was an American graphic designer and filmmaker, known for creating some of the most iconic film posters and corporate logos.
• Michael Bass was a British Brewer, philanthropist, and a member of parliament.
• Chuck Bass is a fictional character in the television series "Gossip Girl," portrayed by actor Ed Westwick.
• Ralph Bass was an American producer during the '60s for blues and R&B musicians.
• Sid Bass is an American businessman and investor who is a major shareholder of the Walt Disney Company.
• Ron Bass was a professional wrestler popular in the '80s in National Wrestling Alliance and World Wrestling Federation.
• Bob Bass was an American professional basketball coach and executive.
• Brian Bass is a former Major League Baseball player.
• Herschel Sparber is an American actor known by his stage name, Big Band Bass.
• Alaina Bass is a marketing director of Texas-based Richards Group, a renowned marketing and branding company.
• Edward Bass is an American businessman known for his involvement in a wide range of environmental and sustainability projects.

Other surnames

BasBasagicBasakBasalBasarBasaranBasarirBasayBasciBasdasBasdemirBasdenBasdonBaseBäseckeBasedenBasegmezBäsekeBaselerBaseltBäseltBasheBashirBashiriBasiliusBasingerBäsingerBaskan