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Hefter Family History

Hefter Surname Meaning

German: occupational name from Middle High German hefte ‘hilt handle clasp’ + -er agent suffix (see Heft) or a habitational name for someone from Heft in Bavaria.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for an embroiderer from an agent derivative of Yiddish heftn ‘to embroider’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Hefter family from?

You can see how Hefter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hefter family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Hefter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 58 Hefter families living in Illinois. This was about 56% of all the recorded Hefter's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Hefter families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hefter 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 Hefter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hefter. 22% of Hefter men worked as a Salesman and 25% of Hefter women worked as a Saleslady. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hefter were Proprietor and Packer.

View Census Data for Hefter | 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

  • Salesman
    22%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Laborer
    8%
  • Proprietor
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    25%
  • New Worker
    19%
  • Clerk
    19%
  • Packer
    19%

What Hefter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Hefter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hefter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hefter

Passenger Lists

There are 809 immigration records available for the last name Hefter. 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 Hefter immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Hefter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hefter family history

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What is the average Hefter lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Hefter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Hefter in 1959 was 61, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hefter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hefter 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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