Contents

A.      Preface

1.      Origin of the name Besse

2.      Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, canton Vaud

2.1    The medieval city of Sainte-Croix

2.2    The hamlet Vers-Chez-la-Besse

2.3    Henry Paillard, named Jaques Besse and his descendants

2.4    Interpretation of the surname

2.5    Coat of arms

2.6    Family tree of the paternals ancestors

3.      Hornbach, Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate

3.1    The medieval city of Hornbach

3.2    Village Mayor Isaac Besse in Hornbach

3.3    Village Mayor Otto Fredrick Besse in Hornbach

3.4    Village Mayor Johann Henrich Besse in Hornbach

4.      Zweibrücken, Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate

4.1    Zweibrücken before the French Revolution

4.2    Hospital steward Henrich Philipp Besse in Zweibrücken

4.3    Secretary of cabinet Philipp Frederick Besse in Zweibrücken

5.      Tholey, Germany, Saarland

5.1    Tholey at the end of the 18th century

5.2    Forester Karl Frederick Besse in Tholey

5.3    Shoemaker Carl Philipp Besse in Tholey

5.4    Shoemaker Nicolaus Besse in Tholey

5.5    Shoemaker Peter Besse in Buweiler

6.      Emigrations

7.      French abridged version

8.      English abridged version

9.      Place and family name register

©  Besse (15.08.2001)