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

Vessels, 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 Vessels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vessels in America

Vessels is the 17502nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vessels surname appeared 1,610 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 Vessels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vessels 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 Vessels

The surname Vessels is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "vessel," which referred to a container for holding liquids or goods. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked as makers or sellers of vessels, such as potters, coopers, or shipwrights.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Vessels can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Essex. One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was Richard le Vesseler, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Vessels was often spelled in various ways, including Vesseler, Vesselere, and Vessellour, reflecting the regional dialects and evolving spelling conventions of the time. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Vessey in Lincolnshire and Vessington in Derbyshire, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Vessels began to appear more frequently in historical records, including parish registers and tax rolls. Notable individuals bearing the name during this period include John Vessels, a merchant from London who was mentioned in the Port Books of 1592, and Thomas Vessels, a landowner in Nottinghamshire whose will was recorded in 1638.

One of the earliest known Vessels emigrants to the American colonies was William Vessels, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another early Vessels settler was John Vessels, who was among the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, in the 1630s.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Vessels have achieved notable accomplishments or gained recognition in various fields. For example, John Vessels (1598-1672) was an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Stanwell in Middlesex. Richard Vessels (1768-1842) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and achieved the rank of Rear Admiral.

Other notable bearers of the surname Vessels include:

1. Thomas Vessels (1805-1888), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes.
2. Margaret Vessels (1892-1975), an American writer and educator who published several novels and short stories.
3. William Vessels (1914-1995), a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous stage productions and television shows.
4. Robert Vessels (1923-2010), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Vessels Holding Corporation.
5. Emily Vessels (born 1982), an Australian artist and sculptor known for her large-scale installations and public artwork.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vessels

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

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

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

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