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Kneff Family History

Kneff 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: Neff, Knaff, Knoff, Knell, Knopf, Reff, Koff, Knee, Sheff, Kneer

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kneff family from?

You can see how Kneff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kneff family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Kneff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Kneff family living in Dorset. This was 100% of all the recorded Kneff's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Kneff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kneff 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 Kneff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Clerk and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kneff. 24% of Kneff men worked as a Clerk and 60% of Kneff women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kneff were Salesman and Secretary.

View Census Data for Kneff | 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

  • Clerk
    24%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Truck Driver
    18%
  • Salesman
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Secretary
    40%

What Kneff family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Kneff

Passenger Lists

There are 121 immigration records available for the last name Kneff. 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 Kneff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 198 military records available for the last name Kneff. For the veterans among your Kneff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kneff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kneff family history

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What is the average Kneff lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Kneff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Kneff in 1963 was 47, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kneff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kneff 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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