The Bassett surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 20,482 people carried this name — #1,750 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 14,400 people counted. That is up 2% from 20,032 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Bassett surname

An English surname transferred from the nickname derived from a nickname for a short person.

From bassett, basset, from French basset.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Bassett» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a nickname: ‘the dwarf’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Golda Bassat, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Bassett and Basset.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 83 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 9 births for the Bassett name in 1890.

Most were registered in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 3 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 4
Ulster 4
Leinster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Bassett was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Cornwall: 24 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 417. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cornwall 24
Kent 24
Staffordshire 20

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

196 families named Bassett, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,136 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 80
Connecticut 64
New York 12
Virginia 11
Vermont 10
New Hampshire 5
Pennsylvania 4
Maryland 3
North Carolina 3
Maine 2
Rhode Island 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 228 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Bassett in American newspapers,
1903–1908.

Newspaper page from The Farmer And Mechanic carrying the name Bassett
The Farmer And Mechanic 1903-11-10
Newspaper page from The News & Observer carrying the name Bassett
The News & Observer 1903-11-08
Newspaper page from The Salt Lake Herald carrying the name Bassett
The Salt Lake Herald 1908-03-29

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Bassett in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

32,830 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bassett. The most, 6,341, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,634
Victoria 8,067
Queensland 4,086
Western Australia 2,910
South Australia 2,899
Tasmania 1,974
ACT (Canberra) 137
Northern Territory 10

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bassett.

Who carried it

People named Bassett,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Bassett d. 1551 · politician
  • John Bassett d. 1551 · politician
  • Walter Bassett d. 1946 · salesperson
  • Richard Bassett d. 1665
  • Catherine Mary Bassett d. 1943
  • Augusta Maria Tyler d. 1917

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bassett,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,272 records

2,272 records of the Bassett name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 734
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 442
  • Other U.S. records 1,096
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Mary L. Bassett

    Born 1920 in Florida. Enlisted 1946 in the Women's Army Corps at Miami; manager. Women's Army Corps veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Florida National Cemetery, Florida.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Charles Bassett

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; laborer. From St. Austals, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Roy Douglas Bassett

    Born 1942; from Tampa, Florida. U.S. Army, cannon crewmember; died of wounds 1969 in Binh Thuan, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,272 records for Bassett in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,274 records

1,274 records of the Bassett name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 509
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 281
  • Other Australian records 484
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Edward Bassett

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Joseph Somes, sailing from London in 1846. Native of Bloomsbury, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ann Bassett

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1837. Married 1837 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record David Bassett

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Marco Polo, aged 45; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,274 records for Bassett in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada85 records

85 records of the Bassett name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 42
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 12
  • Other Canadian records 31
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Thomas Bassett

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the L'Abondence, bound for Port Roseway, aged 39.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Bassett

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Prussian, bound for Sarnia, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Melvina Bassett

    Died 1957, aged 64; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 85 records for Bassett in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom55 records

55 records of the Bassett name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 31
  • Welsh wills index cards 12
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 12
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Samuel Bassett

    Buried in 1802 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 48.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record David Bassett

    Will proved in 1937; of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. I. Bassett

    Lance Corporal, London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 55 records for Bassett in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand21 records

21 records of the Bassett name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 3
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Minnie Louisa Bassett

    Died 1948, aged 80; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Daniel Bassett

    Buried in 1914 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 64.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Albert Bassett

    Died 1964, aged 74; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 21 records for Bassett in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Bassett name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Norah Elizabeth Bassett

    In a population register.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bassett.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Bassett is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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