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Behnke Family History

Behnke Surname Meaning

North German: from a pet form of the personal name Bernhard. Compare Bankey.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Behnke family from?

You can see how Behnke families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Behnke family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Behnke families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 3 Behnke families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Behnke's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Behnke families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Behnke 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 Behnke ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Behnke. 27% of Behnke men worked as a Farmer and 13% of Behnke women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Behnke were Truck Driver and Bookkeeper.

View Census Data for Behnke | 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
    27%
  • Laborer
    10%
  • Farm Laborer
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    13%
  • Teacher
    7%
  • Maid
    7%
  • Bookkeeper
    6%

What Behnke family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Behnke. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Behnke census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Behnke

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Behnke. 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 Behnke immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Behnke. For the veterans among your Behnke ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Behnke military records

You've only scratched the surface of Behnke family history

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What is the average Behnke lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Behnke life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Behnke in 1953 was 40, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Behnke

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Behnke 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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