Last name BESSEMER: origin and meaning

Bessemer : 1: English (southeastern): occupational name from Middle English besmer ‘besom maker’ a derivative of Middle English besm(e) besom(e) (Old English besma) ‘besom’ a broom consisting of a bundle of twigs also used for flogging people as a punishment.2: Altered form of German and Dutch Besemer.

Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press