This English surname started as ‘Bissop’ or ‘Biscop,’ which comes from Latin which had come from the Greek word 'episkopos' which means ‘overseer’ of local Christians. It became a surname of those who were in service in the household of a bishop, also those in resemblance to a bishop.

In other languages the name is ‘Obispo‘’in Spanish, ‘bischof’ in German and ‘yepiskop’ in Russian.

In United States most with the Bishop name are from New York across to the Illinois, and those states along the Great Lakes. In the United Kingdom mostly Bishop families live in the southern region of England and especially around London. In Scotland they are located in Midlowthian county.

Vast majority have worked as farmers.

Famous: Joey Bishop (TV entertainer), William ‘Billy’ Bishop (Canadian flying ace during World War One), Henry Bishop (English postmaster general), Elizabeth Bishop (Pulitzer Prize poet winner), Bernice Pauahi Bishop (Princess of the Kamehameha dynasty), Kevin Bishop (English actor and comedian), Michael Bishop (science fiction and fantasy author), Bridget Bishop (1692, first person hung as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts) and Greg Bishop (football player during 1990s for NY Giants).