Bess is both a surname and a feminine given name (usually as the shortened Hypocorism form of Elizabeth). Notable people with the name include:

Given name

* Elizabeth I (1533-1603), also known as "Good Queen Bess" * Bess of Hardwick (1527-1608), daughter of John Hardwick of Hardwicke * Elizabeth Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (1759-1824), early female novelist * Bess Armstrong (born 1953), American actress * Elizabeth Austin (disambiguation), several people *

Bess Berman Bess Berman (July 14, 1902 – August 8, 1968) was an American record label executive. With her husband Isaac "Ike" Berman, Herman "Hy" Siegel and Sam Schneider, she set up Apollo Records, an independent label notable for its promotion of gospel ...

(1902-1968), American record label executive *

Bess Bolden Walcott Bess Bolden Walcott (1886-1988) was an American educator, librarian, museum curator and activist who helped establish the historical significance of the Tuskegee University. Recruited by Booker T. Washington to help him coordinate his library and ...

(1886-1988), African American educator, librarian, museum curator, and activist *

Bess Bonnier Bess Bonnier (born 26 May 1928 in Detroit; died 6 October 2011 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan) was an American jazz pianist, composer and music educator. Life and work Bonnier, who was blind from birth, had classical piano lessons as a child. ...

(1928-2011), American jazz pianist, composer, and music educator *

Bess Bukodi Erzsebet "Bess" Bukodi is an Associate Professor in Quantitative Social Policy at the Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford and a professorial fellow in sociology at Nuffield College, University of Oxford. She is ...

, British professor * Elizabeth Davies (disambiguation), several people * Elizabeth Davis (disambiguation), several people * Bess Flowers (1898-1984), American actress *

Bess Gearhart Morrison Bess Gearhart Morrison (June 24, 1875 – June 24, 1968) was an American actress and educator, and a speaker on the Chautauqua and lyceum adult education circuits. Early life Florence Elizabeth "Bess" Gearhart was born in Curllsville, Pennsylvania ...

(1875-1968), American actress, educator, and speaker * Elizabeth Holland (died 1547/8), mistress of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk * Bess Houdini (1876-1943), stage assistant and wife of Harry Houdini *

Bess Johnson Bess Johnson ( circa 1902 - January 3, 1975) was an American actress best known for her work on old-time radio. During her time on the air, "she was the highest paid daytime radio artist." Early years Johnson was born in Keyser, West Virginia, t ...

(c. 1902-1975), American actress *

Bess Larkin Housser Harris Bess Larkin Housser Harris (1890–1969) was a Canadian painter who participated in Group of Seven exhibitions and was a member of the Canadian Group of Painters. Biography Bess Larkin was born in 1890 in Manitoba. She attended Havergal Col ...

(1890-1969), Canadian painter * Bess Lomax Hawes (1921-2009), American folk musician, folklorist, and researcher * Bess Meredyth (1890-1969), screenwriter and silent film actress * Bess Motta (born 1958), American actress, singer, choreographer, and exercise demonstrator * Bess Myerson (1924-2014), first Jewish Miss America, and politician * Bess Nkabinde (born 1959), South African judge * Bess Norriss (1878-1939), Australian artist *

Bess Phipps Dawson Bess Phipps Dawson (1916 - April 15, 1994) was an American painter and gallerist. She was a member of the "Summit Trio" in Summit, Mississippi, in the 1960s, and she later owned an art gallery in McComb, Mississippi. Early life Bess Phipps Dawson ...

(1916-1994), American painter *

Bess Price Bess Nungarrayi Price (born 22 October 1960) is an Aboriginal Australian activist and politician. She was a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2016, representing the electorate of Stuart, an ...

(born 1960), Aboriginal Australian activist and politician * Elizabeth Raleigh (1565-1647), wife of Sir Walter Raleigh * Bess Rogers, American indie rock musician *

Bess Stinson Bessie Bryant Stinson (December 24, 1902 – July 19, 1996) was an American politician and businesswoman. Born in Hammon, Rogers Mills County, Oklahoma Territory, Stinson went to the University of Oklahoma and Draughon's Business College in Clin ...

(1902-1996), Arizona state legislator * Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954), American author * Bess Taffel (1913-2000), American screenwriter *

Bess Thomas Bessie Margaret Thomas (14 March 1892 – 7 March 1968) was an Australian librarian of English and Canadian heritage. In 1945, the Mosman Municipal Library was established and Thomas was given the position of chief librarian, the first female i ...

(1892-1968), Australian librarian * Bess Truitt (1884-1972), Oklahoma Poet Laureate from 1945 to 1946 * Bess Truman (1885-1982), wife of President Harry S. Truman * Elizabeth Walker (disambiguation), several people * Bess Whitehead Scott (1890-1997), journalist

Surname

Brandon Bess Brandon Jeremy Bess (born 13 December 1987) is a former international cricketer who made his debut for the West Indies cricket team in June 2010 as a late replacement for Nelon Pascal, who was injured pre-match. A right-arm fast-medium bowler ...

(born 1987), West Indies Test cricketer *

Calvin Bess Calvin Wendell Bess is a former Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago. Educated at Codrington College, Barbados, he was ordained in 1966 and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacies at Scarborough, Tobago and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spa ...

, Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago * Daniel Bess, (born 1977), American television and film actor * Davone Bess (born 1985), National Football League wide receiver * Dominic Bess (born 1997), England cricketer * Georges Bess (born 1947), French comics artist * Rachel Bess (born c. 1979), American painter * Rufus Bess (born 1956), former National Football League cornerback

Fictional characters

* Bess, in the opera '' Porgy and Bess'' * Bess Marvin, one of Nancy Drew's closest friends * Bess, an alternate personality of Jessica Buchanan in the American soap opera ''One Life to Live'' * Elizabeth "Bess" McCord, protagonist of the American drama series '' Madam Secretary''

Given name

Surname

Fictional characters

See also