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Lesser Family History

Lesser Surname Meaning

German: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Lesse for example in Lower Saxony. German: variant of Leser. Germanized or Americanized form of Slovenian Lesar (compare Lessar).

In part it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar).

Dutch: occupational name for a fireman from an agent derivative of Middle Dutch lesschen, lessen ‘to extinguish’.

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


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Where is the Lesser family from?

You can see how Lesser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lesser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lesser families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 92 Lesser families living in London. This was about 63% of all the recorded Lesser's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Lesser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lesser 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 Lesser ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Tailor (master) and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Lesser. 16% of Lesser men worked as a Tailor (master) and 85% of Lesser women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lesser were Salesman Woollen Goods and General Grocer Joint Owners.

View Census Data for Lesser | 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

  • Tailor (master)
    16%
  • Company Director
    11%
  • Master Tailor
    11%
  • Salesman Woollen Goods
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • General Grocer Joint Owners
    3%

What Lesser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Lesser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lesser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lesser

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Lesser. 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 Lesser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Lesser. For the veterans among your Lesser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lesser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lesser family history

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What is the average Lesser lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Lesser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Lesser in 1945 was 46, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lesser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lesser 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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