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Hessey Family History

Hessey Name Meaning

English: habitational name from Hessay (Yorkshire) perhaps from Old English hæsel ‘hazel’ + ‘lake marshland’ or from hæseles genitive form of hæsel + ēg ‘island’.

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


Similar surnames: Hesley, Hussey, Vessey, Cossey, Fossey, Hensley, Hessen, Wesley

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 Hessey family from?

You can see how Hessey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hessey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hessey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 5 Hessey families living in Maryland. This was about 31% of all the recorded Hessey's in USA. Maryland had the highest population of Hessey families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hessey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Hessey ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hessey. 25% of Hessey men worked as a Farmer and 25% of Hessey women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hessey were Salesman and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Hessey | 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

  • Farmer
    25%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • House Work
    13%
  • Housewife
    13%
  • Clerk
    13%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hessey family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Hessey

Passenger Lists

There are 778 immigration records available for the last name Hessey. 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 Hessey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 957 military records available for the last name Hessey. For the veterans among your Hessey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hessey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hessey family history

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What is the average Hessey lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Hessey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Hessey in 1952 was 30, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hessey

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