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

Sessoms, 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 Sessoms surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sessoms in America

Sessoms is the 8206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sessoms surname appeared 4,044 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 Sessoms.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sessoms 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 Sessoms

The surname Sessoms is believed to have originated in England, likely from the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "sess" or "sesse," meaning a seat or a residence, and the suffix "-um," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who lived near a particular seat or dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sessoms can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1196, where a certain "Radulfus de Sessun" is mentioned. The spelling "Sessun" is believed to be an earlier variation of the surname.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across different counties in England, such as the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1221, where a "Willelmus de Sessum" is listed, and the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1264, which mentions a "Johannes de Sessun."

It is possible that the name Sessoms may have originated from a place name, as was common during that time period. However, no definitive place of origin has been identified with certainty. Some historians have speculated that it could be linked to the village of Sezincote in Gloucestershire or the area of Sessay in North Yorkshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Sessoms throughout history include:

1. Sir John Sessoms (c. 1450 - 1518), an English nobleman and military commander who served under King Henry VII during the Wars of the Roses.
2. William Sessoms (1552 - 1613), an English clergyman and theologian who wrote several treatises on religious doctrine.
3. Elizabeth Sessoms (1619 - 1683), one of the first English settlers in the Virginia Colony, who was granted land in what is now Surry County, Virginia.
4. George Sessoms (1772 - 1844), an American farmer and landowner in North Carolina, who played a role in the state's early agricultural development.
5. Thomas Sessoms (1819 - 1892), a British explorer and naturalist who documented the flora and fauna of various regions in Africa and South America.

While the surname Sessoms may have undergone variations in spelling over the centuries, it has maintained its distinctive identity and can be traced back to its English roots, reflecting the rich history and diversity of surnames in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sessoms

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

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

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

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