Explore the Family Name Bessett
The meaning of Bessett
Altered form of French Bessette 1 or Besset (see Bessette 2). Some characteristic forenames: French Andre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bessett in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Bessett saw a slight dip between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Bessett ranked 63,297 in popularity with 295 people carrying the name; however, by 2010, it dropped to rank 67,318 with 293 individuals identified as Bessetts, indicating a minor decrease of 0.68%. The proportion per 100,000 population also declined from 0.11 to 0.1 during this same period, marking a 9.09% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #63,297 | #67,318 | -6.35% |
| Count | 295 | 293 | -0.68% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.1 | -9.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bessett
Turning our attention to the ethnicity associated with the surname Bessett, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that most individuals with this last name identified as White in both 2000 and 2010. Specifically, in 2000, about 94.58% of Bessetts were White, but this percentage marginally decreased to 91.81% in 2010. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in individuals identifying as Hispanic over the decade, with the percentage rising from 2.71% in 2000 to 5.12% in 2010, representing an 88.93% change. The data also shows that in 2010, some Bessetts started identifying with two or more races while none did in 2000. There was no recorded change for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.58% | 91.81% | -2.93% |
| Hispanic | 2.71% | 5.12% | 88.93% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.71% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |