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Jess Family History

Jess Surname Meaning

English: from a short form of the Middle English personal name Jessop a vernacular form of Joseph.

North German: from the personal name Jess a variant of Jens.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Jess family from?

You can see how Jess families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jess family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jess families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 25 Jess families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Jess's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Jess families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jess 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 Jess ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Jess. 77% of Jess women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Jess | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Gown Machinist
    8%
  • House Duties
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%

What Jess family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Jess. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jess census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Jess

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Jess. 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 Jess immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Jess. For the veterans among your Jess ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Jess military records

You've only scratched the surface of Jess family history

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What is the average Jess lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Jess life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Jess in 1953 was 49, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jess

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Jess 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Jess family tree

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