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Bessemer Family History

Bessemer Surname Meaning

English (southeastern): occupational name from Middle English besmer ‘besom maker’ a derivative of Middle English besm(e) besom(e) (Old English besma) ‘besom’ a broom consisting of a bundle of twigs also used for flogging people as a punishment.

Altered form of German and Dutch Besemer.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Bessemer family from?

You can see how Bessemer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bessemer family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Bessemer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 10 Bessemer families living in London. This was about 67% of all the recorded Bessemer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bessemer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bessemer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Bessemer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Private Means and Private Means were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bessemer. 100% of Bessemer men worked as a Private Means and 50% of Bessemer women worked as a Private Means.

View Census Data for Bessemer | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Private Means
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Private Means
    50%
  • Cafe Confectionery tobacco Proprte
    50%

What Bessemer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Bessemer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bessemer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bessemer

Passenger Lists

There are 234 immigration records available for the last name Bessemer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bessemer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 419 military records available for the last name Bessemer. For the veterans among your Bessemer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bessemer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bessemer family history

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What is the average Bessemer lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Bessemer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Bessemer in 1964 was 55, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bessemer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bessemer ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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