Jessee
A surname usually understood as a spelling variant of Jesse, from the biblical Hebrew name meaning “gift” or “wealth.”
The #8,067 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 75,157 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Jessee is generally treated as a spelling variant of Jesse, the English form of the Hebrew name Yishai (יִשַׁי). In the Bible, Jesse is the father of King David, and the name has long been used as a personal name in Christian tradition. The surname likely began as a patronymic or family-name form based on that given name.
History
As with many surnames built from biblical given names, Jessee most likely arose independently in more than one place as a hereditary family name. In English-speaking records it is usually grouped with Jesse and other spelling variants such as Jessie. The form is found especially in the United States, where nonstandard spellings often became fixed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The biblical Jesse is remembered chiefly as the father of David, which made the name popular in Christian naming traditions for centuries.