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Lessing Family History

Lessing Surname Meaning

German: variant of Lessig Germanized form of Sorbian Lěsnik (and possibly also of some other similar or like-sounding Slavic surname): topographic name for a forest dweller or an occupational name for a forester.

lěsnik derived from lěs ‘wood forest’. Compare Lesnik 1 and Lessig.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Lessing family from?

You can see how Lessing families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lessing family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Lessing families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 3 Lessing families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 38% of all the recorded Lessing's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire and 1 other county had the highest population of Lessing families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lessing 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 Lessing ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Lessing. 63% of Lessing women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Lessing | 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
    63%
  • Private Means
    38%

What Lessing family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Lessing. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lessing census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lessing

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Lessing. 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 Lessing immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Lessing. For the veterans among your Lessing ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lessing military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lessing family history

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What is the average Lessing lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Lessing life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Lessing in 1963 was 77, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lessing

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lessing 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 Lessing family tree

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