Thanks again, as always. I may have to stop asking you questions though <vbg> unless I can be assured my ancestors have more glamorous occupations. One name you looked up for me was "person who lived by the swamp" and now you are finding either someone who sold peas or lived on a street. Nice to know I had such exalted ancestors <another vbg> Truly though, thank you. It is quite interesting. Melinda -----Original Message----- From: LaChance [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 10:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [SURNAME-ORIGINS] Gesse/Jesse The only thing I could find on in book number 1 on GESS, GESSE said it was French and means "one who raised and sold peas." I did find GESS in a German surname book but it led me around through several other names (i.e., see "such-and-such") until it finally arrived at: GASS (dweller on a street, shortened form of the following): GASSER, GASSERT, GASSNER, GASMANN, GASSERT. Sources: 1- New Dictionary of American Family Names by E.C. Smith 2- German-American Names by George F. Jones As for JESSE, it is listed in book number 1 as English with the meaning, 'Descendant of Jesse (Jehovah is)'. Don't see how any of this helps you but it is all I could find. Let us hope someone else comes up with something better. Barbara Melinda Strong wrote: > My 2nd great grandfather was George Jesse, and census records indicate he > was born in Prussia ca 1832. He generally spelled his name Jesse, but some > records have Gesse, and one even has Gess. > > Any ideas as to the meaning? Any clues as to the part of Prussia? > > Thanks. > > Melinda Strong > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB