Surname Gressette - Meaning and Origin
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Gressette: What does the surname Gressette mean?
Gressette is a French surname derived from the Middle English word "grès," which means gravel or rock. It is believed to be locational in origin, suggesting that those with the surname once lived in or near stony soils. Alternately, it may have been adopted as an occupational name for a quarryman or mason, referring to the materials he worked with.
The Gressettes of France have likely been in existence since the Middle Ages. It was a relatively common surname in many regions of the country during the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable bearer of the name was Marie Gressette, who famously helped lead the underground resistance during the La Vendee rebellion of 1793. Gressette was then signed as a witness to the Cessay-sur-Sarthe Constitution of 1795, an act that helped restore the monarchy to France.
In present times, there are people with the surname Gressette living in parts of Europe and the United States. American Gressettes have especially formed a significant presence in coastal states like North Carolina and South Carolina, with roots tracing back to the French Huguenots who emigrated to the New World during the 18th century.
Despite the passage of time, Gressette remains a reminder of its ancient French roots. It is testament to the persistence of the human spirit, illustrating how generations of a single name can endure and move across generations in a globalized world.
Order DNA origin analysisGressette: Where does the name Gressette come from?
The last name Gressette is most commonly found today in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 2,500 people with the Gressette surname living in the United States. The highest concentration is found in the South Carolina region, which is likely due to a North America-based Gressette family. North Carolina and Georgia also have sizable populations of those with the Gressette name.
Outside of the United States, the most prevalent location for the Gressette name is France, with small numbers of people found in other small parts of Europe. This is possibly due to French migrants who moved to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In addition, there are several other locations throughout the world where smaller populations of people bearing the Gressette name are found, such as India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Canada, and Australia.
The Gressette name seems to have an interesting story of migration spanning from its origin in western France, to its concentration in America's Southeast region today. However, without a personal understanding of the family's ancestry, it is hard to know exactly the path taken by the Gressettes to get where they are today.
Variations of the surname Gressette
The surname Gressette is an English or French name, most likely derived from the French phrase “grecelette”, which means little grey. It is believed to be from a nickname originally used to refer to someone with grey hair.
Variants of the Gressette surname include Grasette, Gressette, Grissette, Grelette, Greselle, Grecelette, Grecelin, Grecelyne, Grecella, Grecel, Grasselle, and Graselin.
Spellings of Gressette include Grasette, Gressette, Grissette, Grelette, Greselle, Grecelette, Grecelin, Grecelyne, Grecella, Grecel, Grasselle, and Graselin.
Various surnames derived from Gressette are Grasette, Grese, Gresel, Greselle, Grecelin, Grecelyne, Grecella, Grecel, Grasselle, and Grasolin. Common French surnames associated with the surname are Frachey, Grecelet, Gresselin, Greselin, Grazzini, Grazzini, Graslin, Grecellin, Greselette, and Grasiet.
Additionally, some people residing in the United States may have Americanized versions of the surname including Grisset, Grissette, Gresel, Gresell, Grayset, or Grazzini.
Famous people with the name Gressette
- Thurmond Gressette: American politician, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
- William Gressette: American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1947 to 1970.
- Nixon Gressette: American politician, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
- Tony R. Gressette: American politician who served as a South Carolina State Senator from 1982 to 2004.
- Joseph Gressette: American businessman, best known for his long stint as the chairman and CEO of Gressette-Crawford Corporation.
- Donovan Gressette: American football player for the University of South Carolina.
- Lindsey Gressette: American sculptress.
- David Gressette: American musician and composer.
- J. B. Gressette: Late American politician from South Carolina.
- Michael Gressette: American author and speaker best known for his books about exceptional customer service and success.