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Desse Family History

Desse Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Jesse, Besse, Esse, Deese, Desser, Dease, Hesse, Derse, Dessel

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Desse family from?

You can see how Desse families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Desse family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Desse families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 9 Desse families living in Lancashire. This was about 75% of all the recorded Desse's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Desse families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Desse 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 Desse ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Stretcher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Desse. 30% of Desse men worked as a Salesman and 25% of Desse women worked as a Stretcher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Desse were Truck Driver and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Desse | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Salesman
    30%
  • Farmer
    26%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%
  • Truck Driver
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stretcher
    25%
  • Reand Clerk
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Bookkeeper
    25%

What Desse family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 750 census records available for the last name Desse. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Desse census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Desse

Passenger Lists

There are 111 immigration records available for the last name Desse. 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 Desse immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 85 military records available for the last name Desse. For the veterans among your Desse ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Desse military records

You've only scratched the surface of Desse family history

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What is the average Desse lifespan?

Between 1940 and 1986, in the United States, Desse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Desse in 1940 was 52, and 74 in 1986.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Desse

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Desse 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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