This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kerker family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kerker Family History

Kerker Surname Meaning

South German: variant of Kercher (see Karcher) and in North America (also) an altered form of this or of one of its variants (compare Karriker). South German: from the dialect word Kerker ‘prison’ (from Latin carcer) hence a metonymic occupational name for a prison warder or possibly a topographic name.

North German: topographic name for someone who lived near a church from Low German kerke ‘church’ or possibly an occupational name from a shortened form of Low German Kerkener ‘sexton’.

East German: topographic name for someone living near bushes from a German agent derivative of Sorbian kerk ‘bush undergrowth’.

Dutch: topographic name for someone living near a dungeon Dutch kerker or a metonymic occupational name for a warden or a caretaker of a prison.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kerker family from?

You can see how Kerker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kerker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kerker families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 7 Kerker families living in London. This was about 47% of all the recorded Kerker's in United Kingdom. London and 1 other county had the highest population of Kerker families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kerker surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kerker ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kerker. 100% of Kerker women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kerker | 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.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Kerker family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Kerker. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kerker census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kerker

Passenger Lists

There are 701 immigration records available for the last name Kerker. 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 Kerker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 655 military records available for the last name Kerker. For the veterans among your Kerker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kerker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kerker family history

Discover More

What is the average Kerker lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Kerker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Kerker in 1958 was 47, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kerker

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial