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Rahlfs Family History

Rahlfs 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: Rahlf, Rohlfs, Rallis, Ahles, Rauls, Bahls, Rahl, Rohlf, Rawls, Ahlf

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rahlfs family from?

You can see how Rahlfs families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rahlfs family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Rahlfs families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 16 Rahlfs families living in Illinois. This was about 59% of all the recorded Rahlfs's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Rahlfs families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rahlfs 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 Rahlfs ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rahlfs. 58% of Rahlfs men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Rahlfs women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rahlfs were Cabinet Maker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Rahlfs | 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
    58%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    16%
  • Cabinet Maker
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Housewife
    50%

What Rahlfs family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 654 census records available for the last name Rahlfs. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rahlfs census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rahlfs

Passenger Lists

There are 152 immigration records available for the last name Rahlfs. 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 Rahlfs immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 286 military records available for the last name Rahlfs. For the veterans among your Rahlfs ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rahlfs military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rahlfs family history

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What is the average Rahlfs lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Rahlfs life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1963, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Rahlfs in 1961 was 59, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rahlfs

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rahlfs 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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