Find out how popular the last name Bessard is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bessard.

Bessard, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bessard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bessard in America

Bessard is the 56444th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bessard surname appeared 362 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bessard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bessard to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bessard

The surname Bessard is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy. It is thought to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name itself is derived from the Old French word "bessart," which referred to a type of wooded area or thicket.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bessard can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been among the Norman settlers who accompanied William during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name Bessard appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, particularly in northern France and the surrounding regions. Some examples include Jacques Bessard, a landowner in the village of Bretteville-sur-Dives in Normandy, recorded in 1264, and Renaud Bessard, a merchant from the city of Rouen, mentioned in a trade document dated 1287.

In the 14th century, the Bessard surname was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Guillaume Bessard, a prominent lawyer and legal scholar born in Paris in 1320. He authored several influential works on French law and served as a legal advisor to the French monarchy.

Another notable figure was Jeanne Bessard, a noblewoman born in 1375 in the village of Montfort-sur-Risle in Normandy. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of local churches and monasteries.

In the 16th century, the Bessard name gained further prominence with the birth of Pierre Bessard in 1529 in the town of Bayeux, Normandy. He was a renowned poet and playwright who gained recognition for his works celebrating the Renaissance culture and humanism.

During the 17th century, the Bessard surname was associated with several military figures. One such individual was Étienne Bessard, born in 1612 in Caen, Normandy. He served as a captain in the French army and participated in various military campaigns during the Thirty Years' War.

Another notable figure from this period was Marie Bessard, born in 1657 in the village of Vire, Normandy. She was a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the region, challenging the traditional gender norms of the time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bessard

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bessard.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bessard was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bessard has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bessard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bessard, please contact us.

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