This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Wessel family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Wessel Family History

Wessel Surname Meaning

Dutch and German: from a pet form of the personal name Werner. German: habitational name from Wessel in Saxony.

Germanized or Americanized form of Slovenian Vesel and also an Americanized form of a homonymous Slovak surname which probably originates from German Wessel (see above) and of Czech and Slovak Veselý (see Vesely).

Compare Wessell and Vessel.

Jewish (western Ashkenazic): variant of Wesel a habitational name from the town of Wesel in Westphalia Germany.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wessel family from?

You can see how Wessel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wessel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wessel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 5 Wessel families living in Kent. This was about 42% of all the recorded Wessel's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Wessel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wessel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Wessel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Wessel. 100% of Wessel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Wessel | 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
    100%

What Wessel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 27,000 census records available for the last name Wessel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wessel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wessel

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Wessel. 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 Wessel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Wessel. For the veterans among your Wessel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wessel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wessel family history

Discover More

What is the average Wessel lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Wessel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Wessel in 1951 was 69, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wessel

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial