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Hesse History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Hesse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

The surname Hesse is derived from the Germanic tribe of the Hessians.

Early Origins of the Hesse family

The surname Hesse was first found in Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Hesse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hesse research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1416, 1584, 1764, 1790, 1791 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Hesse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hesse Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hess, Hesse, Esse, Hessel, Hesselin, Hesso, Hesler, Hesner and many more.

Early Notables of the Hesse family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Hesse were

the Hesse family of Austria

Hesse Ranking

In the United States, the name Hesse is the 5,125^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Hesse is ranked the 6,048^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Hesse migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hesse Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Friedrich Hesse, aged 21, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
Johannes Hesse, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1773 3
David Hesse, who landed in America in 1778 3
Johann Hesse, who landed in America in 1783 3

Hesse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Kasemir Hesse, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 3
Arnold Hesse, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 3
Aug Christ Hesse, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 3
Christ Jacob Hesse, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 3
Charles Henry Hesse, who arrived in Maryland in 1838 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hesse Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Carl Jacob Hesse, who landed in Alabama in 1926 3

Hesse migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hesse Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Jacob Hesse U.E. who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontarioc. 1786 4

Hesse migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hesse Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

H. Hesse, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 5

Hesse migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hesse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

August Adolph Albert Hesse, aged 27, a gardener, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Pauline Hesse, aged 23, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Ellis Hesse, aged 2, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Edwin Hesse, aged 10 months, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
Mr. August Adolph Albert Hesse, (b. 1813), aged 27, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hesse (post 1700) +

Eva Hesse (1936-1970), German-born American sculptor
W. R. Hesse, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Fayette County, 1972 7
John E. Hesse, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 10th District, 1930 7
J. F. Hesse, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nevada, 1924; Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1925-31 7
Isobel M. Hesse, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1988 7
Henry J. Hesse, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 5th District, 1888 7
Fred Hesse, American politician, Candidate for Borough President of Queens, New York, 1921 7
Dewey H. Hesse, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 22nd District, 1942 7
Karl Bernhard Hesse MSC MBE (1936-2023), German prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Auxiliary Bishop of Rabaul from 1978 to 1980, Bishop of Kavieng from 1980 to 1990, and Archbishop of Rabaul from 1990 to 2011
Kai Hesse (b. 1985), German footballer
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html