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Bessette Family History

Bessette Name Meaning

French: topographic name designating a small wood of birches from Occitan bès ‘birch tree’ (see Besse ) or a habitational name from (La) Bessette the name of several places in the southern part of France. Alternatively an altered form of French Besset: topographic name a cognate of 1 above. Altered ending reflects the Canadian and American French practice of sounding the final -t.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Bissette, Bassette, Boulette, Bonnette, Bressette, Bessett, Bissett

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Bessette family from?

You can see how Bessette families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bessette family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Bessette families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1880 there were 28 Bessette families living in Massachusetts. This was about 18% of all the recorded Bessette's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Bessette families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bessette 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 Bessette ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bessette. 20% of Bessette men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Bessette women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bessette were Clerk and Housework. .

View Census Data for Bessette | 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
    20%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    12%
  • Maid
    8%
  • Housewife
    7%
  • Housework
    7%
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What Bessette family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Bessette. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bessette census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Bessette

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Bessette. For the veterans among your Bessette ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bessette military records

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What is the average Bessette lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Bessette life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Bessette in 1946 was 35, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bessette

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