2000
#111,740
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 146
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Hessee
A variant spelling of the Germanic surname Hesse, indicating regional origin or residence.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Hessee. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hessee surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Hessee in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hessee, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Black (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hessee
The surname HESSEE is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hēah-sǣte," which means "high seat" or "elevated dwelling." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive surname given to someone who lived on a hill or in a high-altitude area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HESSEE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hese" or "Hessee." This census record commissioned by William the Conqueror provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames in England during the 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name HESSEE was also documented in various manorial records and tax rolls, often with variations in spelling such as "Hessie," "Hessey," or "Hessy." These records indicate that the name was prevalent in certain regions of England, particularly in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
One notable individual bearing the surname HESSEE was William Hessee (c. 1450-1520), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norwich, Norfolk. He is mentioned in historical records for his contributions to the local community and his support of the Church.
Another famous person with the HESSEE surname was John Hessee (1558-1631), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He is known for his involvement in the religious debates and controversies of the time.
In the 17th century, the HESSEE family had a presence in the town of Colchester, Essex. Records show that a Thomas Hessee (1620-1689) was a prominent figure in the local government and served as a magistrate during the English Civil War.
During the 18th century, the name HESSEE continued to be found in various parish records and census documents across England. One notable individual from this period was Mary Hessee (1745-1812), a celebrated author and poet from Ipswich, Suffolk, who published several collections of her works.
The HESSEE surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Hessee Green in Bedfordshire and Hessee Farm in Norfolk, which may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or derived from the Old English word "hēah-sǣte" itself.
These are just a few examples of individuals and historical references associated with the surname HESSEE, which has a rich history and origins deeply rooted in the Anglo-Saxon heritage of England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hessee
Among Census respondents with the surname Hessee, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Black (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Hessee bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hessee surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 111
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hessee
Hessee appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-36 bearers (-24.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 37,655 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+9 bearers (+8.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,607 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #111,740 | 146 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | -36 bearers (-24.7%) | Down 37,655 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +9 bearers (+8.2%) | Up 6,607 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Hessee surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #142,788 | 4.4% |
| Count | 110 | 119 | 8.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hessee bearers went from 110 to 119 (+8.2% change). The surname moved up 6,607 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #142,788.
FAQ
Hessee surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hessee?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Hessee. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Hessee?
Hessee ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 119 people with the surname Hessee. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Hessee.
Has Hessee become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hessee went from 110 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 9 (+8.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Hessee?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hessee, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Black (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Hessee in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (111 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hessee appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Black (1.7%), Hispanic (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Hessee (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Hessee mean?
A variant spelling of the Germanic surname Hesse, indicating regional origin or residence. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Hessee (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Hessee?
You can see how many people have the last name Hessee on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.