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

Kessay, 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 Kessay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kessay in America

Kessay is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kessay surname appeared 165 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 Kessay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kessay 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 Kessay

The surname Kessay has its roots in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that once thrived in England. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cers," which means watercress. This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have resided near a body of water where watercress grew abundantly.

One of the earliest known records of the name Kessay can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Kessaye, who held a manor in the county of Norfolk.

During the medieval period, the surname Kessay underwent various spelling variations, such as Kersay, Kersaye, and Kersee. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions and the influence of local dialects.

In the 14th century, records show a prominent figure named John Kessay, who served as a member of the King's Council during the reign of Edward III. Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Kessay, a knight who fought alongside Henry V in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

The Kessay name has also been associated with several place names in England. For instance, the village of Kersay in Gloucestershire is believed to have derived its name from the surname, indicating that the Kessay family may have once held land or influence in that area.

Throughout history, the Kessay surname has been borne by several notable individuals, including:

1. William Kessay (c. 1520 - 1592), an English merchant and explorer who traveled extensively in the Middle East and Asia.
2. Elizabeth Kessay (1628 - 1689), a renowned herbalist and botanist who authored one of the earliest books on medicinal plants in England.
3. Sir Richard Kessay (1745 - 1810), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars.
4. James Kessay (1789 - 1862), an English inventor and engineer credited with developing one of the earliest practical steam engines.
5. Margaret Kessay (1877 - 1951), a pioneering educator and suffragette who advocated for women's rights and educational reforms in the early 20th century.

While the Kessay surname may have evolved and spread across different regions over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, where it likely signified a connection to watercress or a specific locality associated with this aquatic plant.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kessay

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

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

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

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