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Schaefer Family History

Schaefer Name Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) (Schäfer): occupational name for a shepherd from an agent derivative of German Schaf Middle High German schāf ‘sheep’. The surname Schäfer is also found in Hungary and Czechia. Compare Schafer and Schaffer Dutch: of German origin (see 1 above). Compare Schaefers .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Schaffer, Schiefer, Schiffer, Schaffter, Scharrer, Schadler, Scheler

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Schaefer family from?

You can see how Schaefer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schaefer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schaefer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 47 Schaefer families living in London. This was about 76% of all the recorded Schaefer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Schaefer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schaefer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Schaefer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Schaefer. 78% of Schaefer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Schaefer | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Private Means
    14%
  • Independent
    10%
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What Schaefer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 135,000 census records available for the last name Schaefer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schaefer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Schaefer

Passenger Lists

There are 30,000 immigration records available for the last name Schaefer. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Schaefer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 35,000 military records available for the last name Schaefer. For the veterans among your Schaefer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schaefer military records

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What is the average Schaefer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Schaefer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Schaefer in 1940 was 40, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schaefer

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