In Croatia, Milessa families are mainly Italians (from Pula ), less frequently Croats (from Rijeka ). In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Rijeka.
Prevalence
About 10 people with faimily name Milessa live in Croatia today, in four households only. There were 50 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number decreased significantly. They are located in two Croatian cities only, in Rijeka (<10) and Pula (<5).
Outside Croatia
Family name Milessa is present in five countries on two continents. "Melessa " is used by small number of people in the United States.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 1927 in source Emigration Commission Zagreb.