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Kiefer Family History

Kiefer Surname Meaning

German: occupational name for a cooper or the overseer of a wine cellar from an agent derivative of Middle High German kuofe ‘vat barrel’ (from Latin cupa). German: possibly also from an agent derivative of Middle High German kiffen ‘to quarrel’ hence a nickname for a bickerer.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Kiefer ‘pine tree’. This word which is first attested in the early 15th century is a blend of kien and forhe both meaning ‘pine’.

The two elements still have a separate existence: kieboom is the Dutch term for a pine tree while in many parts of Germany the word for the tree is Föhre.

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


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Where is the Kiefer family from?

You can see how Kiefer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kiefer family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Kiefer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 13 Kiefer families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Kiefer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kiefer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kiefer 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 Kiefer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kiefer. 100% of Kiefer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kiefer | 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
    100%

What Kiefer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 41,000 census records available for the last name Kiefer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kiefer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kiefer

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Kiefer. 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 Kiefer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 14,000 military records available for the last name Kiefer. For the veterans among your Kiefer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kiefer military records

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What is the average Kiefer lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Kiefer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Kiefer in 1942 was 44, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kiefer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kiefer 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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