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Besaw Family History

Besaw Surname Meaning

Americanized form of French Bisson or Buisson.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Besaw family from?

You can see how Besaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Besaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Besaw families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 3 Besaw families living in Ontario. This was about 60% of all the recorded Besaw's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Besaw families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Besaw surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Besaw ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Besaw. 37% of Besaw men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Besaw women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Besaw were Mechanic and Housewife.

View Census Data for Besaw | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    37%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Truck Driver
    8%
  • Mechanic
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    18%
  • Housework
    18%
  • Waitress
    15%
  • Housewife
    15%

What Besaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Besaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Besaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Besaw

Passenger Lists

There are 160 immigration records available for the last name Besaw. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Besaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Besaw. For the veterans among your Besaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Besaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Besaw family history

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What is the average Besaw lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Besaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Besaw in 1955 was 28, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Besaw

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Besaw ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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