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Defes Family History

Defes 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: Debes, Dees, Defee, Denes, Defer, Lees, Hees, Deep, Delos, Mewes

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Defes family from?

You can see how Defes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Defes family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Defes families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 8 Defes families living in Louisiana. This was about 89% of all the recorded Defes's in USA. Louisiana had the highest population of Defes families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Defes 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 Defes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 172 census records available for the last name Defes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Defes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Defes

Passenger Lists

There are 37 immigration records available for the last name Defes. 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 Defes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5 military records available for the last name Defes. For the veterans among your Defes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Defes military records

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What is the average Defes lifespan?

Average Defes life expectancy in 1974 was 81 years. This was higher than the general public life expectancy which was 70.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Defes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Defes 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Defes family tree

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