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Bess Family History

Bess Name Meaning

English (Devon): possibly a variant of Biss . Altered form of German Boesch . In some cases possibly also be an altered form of French Besse .

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


Similar surnames: Boss, Best, Buss, Ness, Gess, Ress, Hess, Wess, Bass, Beas

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Bess family from?

You can see how Bess families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bess family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bess families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 53 Bess families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Bess's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Bess families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bess 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 Bess ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Bess. 34% of Bess men worked as a Gardener and 80% of Bess women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bess were Cinema Operator and Unpaid Household Duties. .

View Census Data for Bess | 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

  • Gardener
    34%
  • Motor Driver
    23%
  • Incapacitated
    23%
  • Cinema Operator
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    6%
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What Bess family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 51,000 census records available for the last name Bess. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bess census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Bess

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bess. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bess immigration records

Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Bess lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Bess life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bess in 1943 was 19, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bess

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