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Hessey Family History

Hessey Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Hessay (Yorkshire) perhaps from Old English hæsel ‘hazel’ + sǣ ‘lake marshland’.

Alternatively, it may derive from hæseles genitive form of hæsel + ēg ‘island’.

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


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Where is the Hessey family from?

You can see how Hessey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hessey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hessey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 125 Hessey families living in Yorkshire. This was about 32% of all the recorded Hessey's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Hessey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hessey 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 Hessey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bus Conductor and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hessey. 15% of Hessey men worked as a Bus Conductor and 78% of Hessey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hessey were Plumber and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Hessey | 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

  • Bus Conductor
    15%
  • Transport Inspector
    15%
  • Motor Driver
    15%
  • Plumber
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Hessey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Hessey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hessey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hessey

Passenger Lists

There are 778 immigration records available for the last name Hessey. 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 Hessey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 957 military records available for the last name Hessey. For the veterans among your Hessey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hessey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hessey family history

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What is the average Hessey lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Hessey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Hessey in 1952 was 30, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hessey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hessey 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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