Surname Jeße - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Roots of My Family Name Jeße Through iGENEA DNA Analysis

My iGENEA's DNA test unveiled the multifaceted history and migration journey associated with my surname, Jeße. Tracing the roots to the R-M417 haplogroup, the analysis connected my lineage primarily back to Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent, adding a new depth to my identity.

M. Jeße

Jeße: What does the surname Jeße mean?

The last name Jeße is a Germanic surname, which is derived from a personal name given to a male child at birth. The given name was usually given in honor of a saint or a biblical figure. It is derived from the medieval Germanic personal name Jesce, which is derived from Jesse, the father of King David.

In modern German, the name is spelled Jeße, with two Eszett (ß). The Eszett, or scharfes S, combines and connects the two ‘e’s. In names, its usage predates the unification of Germany in 1871, indicating that it is an old name.

In German names, there are often nicknames or diminutives constructed from the original name. The diminutive for Jeße could be Jessl, Jessi, or Jess.

The earliest record of the Jeße surname dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Othesen Jeße lived in Mosel. He was a descendent of a noble family that had noble ancestry even further back in time. Records of the name appeared all over Germany, with many Jeßes living in Prussia and in the Hanover region.

The Jeße name is quite common in parts of Germany and Austria, but there are also people with this name in other parts of Central Europe. There have also been individual occurrences of the Jeße name in North America and Canada, indicating the emigration of some family members.

Overall, the Jeße surname is a Germanic family name derived from a personal name and has a long and distinguished lineage, which indicates its historic origin.

Jeße: Where does the name Jeße come from?

The last name Jeße is mostly common in Germany and the Netherlands today. The name is thought to be a German variant of the popular English surname Jesse, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yishay (ישעי), which means “God exists” or “God’s gift”. The name was popularized in the United Kingdom through the biblical story of Jesse, the father of King David.

In Germany, the name is most commonly seen in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. It is less common in the southern states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is also found in some Dutch provinces, particularly in Noord-Brabant, Flevoland, and Gelderland, among others.

According to some sources, the original spelling may have been Jösse, a name derived from the Old Frankish name Gautioss, denoting somebody of Germanic origin. It may also be derived from the Old English names Iēsse or Jēsse. In the Netherlands, the name Jeße is pronounced as 'Yeh-sseh' and in Germany, it is usually pronounced as 'Ye-seh'.

The Jeße surname is associated with many notable figures, such as Dutch comedian Bouba Jeße, German singer Carola Jeße, the German physicist Johannes Jeße, and the Dutch footballer René Jeße, among others.

Given its popularity in the Low Countries, it might be speculated that the surname Jeße originated in one of the Germanic tribes, such as the Franks, that colonized and settled in these regions many centuries ago.

Variations of the surname Jeße

The surname Jesse is believed to have originated from given name Iesse or Iesous, which is the Greek form of the Biblical name "Joshua". It is believed that the surname originated in Europe, particularly Germany and the Low Countries. In England, it is believed to have originated from the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Variants of the surname Jesse include Jessee, Jesie, Jessy, Jessye, Jessey, Jessi, Jess, Jessen, Jesson, Jessup, Jeße, Jesey, Jessey, Jese, Jesi, Jece, Jesseye, Jhaus, Jesau, and Jes.

Spellings of Jesse include Jess, Jessy, Jessey, Jessye, Jhess, Jece, Jhessye, Jecee, Jeess, jecey, jecai, jeceen, Jecy, Jecea, Jesce, Jecei, Jesey, Jesi, Jes, Jesė, Jesey, Jecee, Jessey, Jecie, and Jesseye.

Surnames of the same origin as Jesse include Jesau, Jhaus, Jhaeus, Jhraus, Jhass, Jhauss, Jhaussi, Jhauser, Jhausse, Jhaussen, Jhausen, Jhausse, Jhausn, Jhausse, Jesau, Jhause, Jhaun, Jhausi, Jhaussey, and Jhaussen.

Famous people with the name Jeße

• Jesse Williams: Actor and activist best known for his roles on Grey's Anatomy and his work with various social justice organizations and movements.
• Jesse Spencer: Actor best known for his roles on House, Chicago Fire, and Spy Kids.
• Jesse Eisenberg: Actor renowned for his roles as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network and Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman.
• Jesse Metcalfe: Actor best known for his roles in John Tucker Must Die and NBC's Dallas, among others.
• Jesse McCartney: Singer and actor known for his roles on Summerland and All My Children and for his musical collaborations.
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Actor best known for his roles on Modern Family and The Class.
• Jesse James: Reality television personality and custom motorcycle designer.
• Jesse Lee Soffer: Actor best known for his work in films such as Love, Simon and television series such as Chicago P.D.
• Jesse Lee Davis: American country singer and songwriter.
• Jesse Wilson: Sculptor, painter, and installation artist.

Other surnames

Jeßen