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Detlefs Family History

Detlefs Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Dethlefs, Delfs, Delles, Detlefsen, Deters, Detmers, Detloff, Delos

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Detlefs family from?

You can see how Detlefs families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Detlefs family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Detlefs families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 16 Detlefs families living in Iowa. This was about 70% of all the recorded Detlefs's in USA. Iowa had the highest population of Detlefs families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Detlefs surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Detlefs ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Detlefs. 50% of Detlefs men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Detlefs women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Detlefs were Salesman and Clerk.

View Census Data for Detlefs | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    50%
  • Manager
    17%
  • Clerk
    17%
  • Salesman
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Clerk
    40%

What Detlefs family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 874 census records available for the last name Detlefs. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Detlefs census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Detlefs

Passenger Lists

There are 314 immigration records available for the last name Detlefs. 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 Detlefs immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 195 military records available for the last name Detlefs. For the veterans among your Detlefs ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Detlefs military records

You've only scratched the surface of Detlefs family history

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What is the average Detlefs lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Detlefs life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Detlefs in 1964 was 80, and 101 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Detlefs

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Detlefs ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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