Explore the Family Name Bessemer
The meaning of Bessemer
1. English (southeastern): occupational name from Middle English besmer ‘besom maker’, a derivative of Middle English besm(e), besom(e) (Old English besma) ‘besom’, a broom consisting of a bundle of twigs, also used for flogging people as a punishment. 2. Altered form of German and Dutch Besemer. History: Sir Henry Bessemer, born in 1813 in Charlton (Hertfordshire), was the inventor of a process for making cheap steel. His family claimed to be of Huguenot stock, but this is not confirmed by 17th-century records.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bessemer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bessemer saw a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 100,663 in terms of prevalence but dropped to 106,570 by 2010, representing a change of -5.87%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname remained relatively steady over the same period, increasing slightly from 166 to 167, signifying a 0.6% growth. The proportion of the surname per 100,000 people remained unchanged at 0.06.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #100,663 | #106,570 | -5.87% |
| Count | 166 | 167 | 0.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bessemer
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data showed that the majority of individuals with the Bessemer surname identified as White, with an increase from 94.58% in 2000 to 97.60% in 2010. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying as Hispanic saw a significant decline from 3.01% in 2000 to 0.00% in 2010. There were no recorded changes for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years, with the percentages remaining at 0.00%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.58% | 97.6% | 3.19% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 3.01% | 0% | -100% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |