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

Dessus, 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 Dessus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dessus in America

Dessus is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dessus surname appeared 120 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 Dessus.

The history of the last name Dessus

The surname DESSUS is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "dessus," which translates to "above" or "on top." This suggests that the name may have originated from a physical description or a geographical location situated at a higher elevation.

In the early 13th century, records indicate the presence of the DESSUS name in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy. The earliest recorded spelling variations include "Dessus," "Desus," and "Desous."

Historical references to the DESSUS name can be found in various medieval manuscripts and charters. One notable mention is in the "Livre des Bourgeois de Rouen" (Book of Burghers of Rouen), a register of citizens in the city of Rouen, Normandy, from the 14th century. The name "Jehan Dessus" appears in this document, indicating the presence of the surname in that region during that time.

The earliest recorded bearer of the DESSUS surname was Guillaume Dessus, born around 1280 in the village of Dessus-le-Bourg, near Amiens in Picardy. Another notable figure was Marguerite Dessus, a merchant from Rouen who lived in the late 15th century and was involved in the textile trade.

In the 16th century, the DESSUS name gained prominence with the birth of Pierre Dessus (1520-1588), a renowned French humanist scholar and philosopher. He authored several influential works on philosophy and rhetoric, and his teachings had a significant impact on the intellectual circles of his time.

Another historical figure bearing the DESSUS surname was Jacques Dessus (1635-1702), a French military engineer and architect. He was responsible for designing and constructing several fortifications and military structures during the reign of King Louis XIV.

In the 18th century, Marie-Françoise Dessus (1742-1810) was a notable figure in the French Revolution. She was a prominent activist and participated in the Women's March on Versailles, playing a role in the historic events that shaped the course of the revolution.

As the DESSUS name spread throughout France and beyond, it also gave rise to various place names and toponyms. For instance, the village of Dessus-le-Bourg in Picardy, mentioned earlier, likely derives its name from the surname itself, indicating the presence of a family or settlement bearing the DESSUS name in that location.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dessus

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

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

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

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