Get access to Heffer family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Heffer Family History

Heffer Surname Meaning

From Middle English heifer heifor (Old English hēafore hēafre) ‘heifer young cow’ apparently attested in the 1327 example. Some of the following bearers may belong with (2) or (3). Variant of Hefford with loss of final -d.

However, the word heifer in (1) also appears from the 16th century as heckforde heckfurthe heffarth and hefforth (OED), so there may have been confusion between several different names which only genealogical research can disentangle.

In SW England, alternatively, perhaps from Heiffers in Witheridge (Devon) with later loss of final -s. The place-name may mean ‘place where furze was cut’ from Old English hīewe ‘cut hewn’ + fyrs ‘furze’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Similar surnames:

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

Where is the Heffer family from?

You can see how Heffer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heffer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heffer families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 128 Heffer families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Heffer's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Heffer families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heffer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Heffer

What did your Heffer ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Heffer | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1939

General Labourer
16%
Farm Labourer
10%
Builders Labourer
10%
Incapacitated
7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

Unpaid Domestic Duties
79%
Housewife
5%
Unpaid Domestic
4%
Domestic Duties
3%

What Heffer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Heffer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heffer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heffer

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Heffer. 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 Heffer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Heffer. For the veterans among your Heffer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Heffer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heffer family history

Discover More

What is the average Heffer lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2003, in the United States, Heffer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Heffer in 1951 was 55, and 71 in 2003.

Start a 14-Day Free Trial