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

Jessel, 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 Jessel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jessel in America

Jessel is the 62189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jessel surname appeared 322 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 Jessel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jessel 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 Jessel

The surname Jessel originated in Germany, with its earliest known bearers hailing from the regions of Saxony and Prussia during the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the German word "gessele," meaning a companion or an attendant. It is likely that the progenitors of the Jessel lineage were individuals employed in such roles, with the occupational moniker eventually evolving into a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jessel name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This suggests that the name had already become established as a distinct familial identifier by that time.

In the late 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Jessel surname was Johann Jessel (1472-1541), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His writings and teachings contributed to the spread of Lutheran doctrine throughout central Europe.

The Jessel name also found its way into the annals of English history, with Sir George Jessel (1824-1883), a celebrated English judge and jurist. Born in London, he rose through the ranks of the legal profession, eventually being appointed as the Master of the Rolls and serving as a member of the Privy Council.

Another prominent individual with the Jessel surname was Sir Herbert Jessel (1866-1950), a British financier and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to various charitable causes, including the establishment of the Jessel Hospital in London, which specialized in the treatment of mental health disorders.

In the realm of literature, the name Jessel is associated with Sir George Jessel (1891-1975), an English actor, composer, and writer. He gained fame for his performances on the stage and in films, and his works contributed to the cultural landscape of early 20th century Britain.

While the Jessel surname may have originated in Germany, its bearers have left their mark across various spheres of influence, from religion and law to finance and the arts, spanning multiple countries and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jessel

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

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

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

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