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Bessett Family History

Bessett Surname Meaning

Altered form of French Bessette 1 or Besset (see Bessette ).

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 Bessett family from?

You can see how Bessett families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bessett family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bessett families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 67 Bessett families living in Quebec. This was about 39% of all the recorded Bessett's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Bessett families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bessett 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 Bessett ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Bessett. 44% of Bessett men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Bessett | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    44%
  • Labourer
    13%
  • Carpenter
    10%
  • Machinist
    10%

What Bessett family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Bessett. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bessett census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bessett

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Bessett. 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 Bessett immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 524 military records available for the last name Bessett. For the veterans among your Bessett ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bessett military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bessett family history

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What is the average Bessett lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Bessett life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Bessett in 1963 was 86, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bessett

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bessett 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bessett family tree

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