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

Wesse Family History

Wesse Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Jesse, Weese, Besse, Esse, Wessel, Weise, Wess, Wease, Hesse, Wisse

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 Wesse family from?

You can see how Wesse families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wesse family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Wesse families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 3 Wesse families living in Missouri. This was about 43% of all the recorded Wesse's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Wesse families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wesse surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Wesse ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wesse. 41% of Wesse men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Wesse women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wesse were Machinist and Bookkeeper. .

View Census Data for Wesse | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    41%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Trucker
    6%
  • Machinist
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    34%
  • Saleslady
    23%
  • New Worker
    23%
  • Bookkeeper
    23%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Wesse family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Wesse. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wesse census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Wesse

Passenger Lists

There are 182 immigration records available for the last name Wesse. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Wesse immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 222 military records available for the last name Wesse. For the veterans among your Wesse ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wesse military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wesse family history

Discover More

What is the average Wesse lifespan?

Between 1970 and 2004, in the United States, Wesse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Wesse in 1970 was 72, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wesse

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wesse family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Wesse last name

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