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Josef Family History

Josef Surname Meaning

German Czech and Jewish: from the personal name Josef (see Joseph).

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 Josef family from?

You can see how Josef families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Josef family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Josef families were found in USA in 1920. In 1841 there was 1 Josef family living in Banffshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Josef's in Scotland. Banffshire had the highest population of Josef families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Josef surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1891
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What did your Josef ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Attendant was the top reported job for people in the USA named Josef. 50% of Josef men worked as an Attendant.

View Census Data for Josef | 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

  • Attendant
    50%
  • Butcher
    50%

What Josef family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Josef. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Josef census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Josef

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Josef. 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 Josef immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Josef military records

You've only scratched the surface of Josef family history

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What is the average Josef lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Josef life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Josef in 1959 was 29, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Josef

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Josef 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 Josef family tree

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