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

Blessé, 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 Blessé surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Blessé in America

Blessé is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blessé surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blessé.

The history of the last name Blessé

The surname Blesse has its origins in medieval Europe, specifically in the regions that are today modern-day France and Germany. The name likely derives from an Old French or Middle High German word, both of which contributed to its earliest grammatical forms and phonetic spelling. Blesse may come from the Old French word "blesse," meaning "wounded" or "injured," which often indicated a person who had been scarred or marked by a notable event or injury.

Early references to the surname date back to the 12th and 13th centuries in medieval manuscripts and documents. One of the earliest recorded instances can be found in a French feudal document from 1214, where a certain Jean Blesse was listed as a tenant of a small manor in the region near Normandy. Another early record appears in Germany, dating to 1273, where Heinrich Blesse was mentioned as a craftsman in the city of Strasbourg.

During the 14th century, the name began to appear more frequently in various legal documents, tax records, and guild registrations. In 1335, Nicholas Blesse of Cologne was noted for his contributions to the local carpenters' guild, an organization that played a crucial role in the community. By the end of the 15th century, the surname had firmly established itself in diverse regions, reflecting both social mobility and local histories.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Blesse was Guillaume Blesse, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was mentioned in military records as early as 1415. His descendant, Pierre Blesse, became the mayor of a small French town, Vannes, around 1492 and was known for his contributions to municipal reforms and urban development.

Moving into the 17th and 18th centuries, the name appears in genealogical records of various European armies and merchant ventures. For example, Christoph Blesse, born in 1643, served as a distinguished officer in the Habsburg military and later moved to Austria, where he was knighted in 1680 for his military services. In the 18th century, Johanna Blesse, born in 1720 in the French countryside, became known for her work as an herbalist, blending traditional knowledge with burgeoning scientific approaches to medicine.

Throughout history, these individuals and records demonstrate the widespread dispersal and socio-economic roles played by those bearing the surname Blesse. The name’s etymological roots connect it to both personal characteristics and occupational identities in various European societies over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blessé

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blessé 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.

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 Blessé was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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