History of your Surname
Get access to Mess family records.Start a free trial

Mess Family History

Mess Name Meaning

South German: possibly a metonymic occupational name for a brazier from Middle High German mess(e) ‘brass’. Scottish (Aberdeenshire): unexplained. Americanized or Germanized form of Slovenian Mes: unexplained.

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


Similar surnames: Meiss, Mass, Meis, Hess, Ess, Ress, Meth, Geiss, Ness, Gess

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Mess family from?

You can see how Mess families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mess family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mess families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 35 Mess families living in London. This was about 36% of all the recorded Mess's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Mess families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mess 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 Mess ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Mess. 60% of Mess men worked as a Farmer and 75% of Mess women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mess were General Labourer and Cook. .

View Census Data for Mess | 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

  • Farmer
    60%
  • General Labourer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Servant
    9%
  • Domestic Duties
    9%
  • Cook
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Mess family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Mess. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mess census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Mess

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Mess. For the veterans among your Mess ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mess military records

You've only scratched the surface of Mess family history

Discover More

What is the average Mess lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Mess life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Mess in 1959 was 59, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mess

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Mess family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Mess last name

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