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

Jessee, 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 Jessee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jessee in America

Jessee is the 8067th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jessee surname appeared 4,108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Jessee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jessee 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 Jessee

The surname JESSEE originated in England during the late medieval period, derived from the personal name Jesse, which itself traces its roots back to the Hebrew male name Yishay, meaning "gift" or "God's gift." The name's popularity in England coincided with the Protestant Reformation and the increased use of biblical names for children.

JESSEE is believed to have emerged as a surname in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, where some of the earliest recorded instances can be found in parish registers and tax records from the 16th and 17th centuries. Variations in spelling, such as JESSIE, JESSYE, and JESSY, were common during this time due to inconsistent record-keeping practices.

One of the earliest known references to the JESSEE surname is found in the 1588 Parish Register of Blythburgh, Suffolk, which mentions a William Jessee. Another early record is that of John Jessee, whose son was baptized in the parish of Loddon, Norfolk, in 1612.

While not extensively documented in major historical works like the Domesday Book, the JESSEE name occasionally appears in local histories and genealogical records from the 16th century onward. Notably, the name is linked to the village of Jessoe in Norfolk, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

Among notable individuals bearing the JESSEE surname, John Jessee (1645-1724) was a pioneer settler who established the Jessee family in America, arriving in Virginia from England in the late 17th century. His descendants played a significant role in the westward expansion and settlement of the American frontier.

Another prominent figure was William Jessee (1787-1858), a Baptist minister and early settler in Kentucky, who served as a missionary and established several churches in the state. His son, Joseph Jessee (1820-1899), was a Union soldier during the American Civil War and later became a respected farmer and community leader.

In the 19th century, Obadiah Jessee (1806-1887) was a wealthy landowner and businessman in Virginia, known for his extensive agricultural and mining interests. His grandson, James Jessee (1861-1937), was a prominent lawyer and judge in the same state.

More recently, Elizabeth Jessee (1922-2016) was a acclaimed American artist and sculptor, recognized for her abstract expressionist works and contributions to the arts community in California.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jessee

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

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

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

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