This interesting name is well recorded but the origin is far from certain. The research strongly indicates that the name is English Medieval development from the Olde French "Tieis" which like "Waleis" (Wales) means a foreigner - although "Tieis" used in England by the Normans described an Anglo-Saxon. The modern name spellings include Tassell, Tossell, Tessell and Tysall, all of whom appear to mean "The Son of Tieis or Tyas" (Little Tyas"). The name development inlcudes Alice Tysall (1590, London), Charles Tessell (1668), Thomas Tassell (1676). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Tyshall. which was dated 1565 (Baptised) St. Martins, Ludgate, London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.