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Knepshield Family History

Knepshield Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Knippschild a nickname for a brave fighter from Low German knippen ‘to shoot flick’ + schild ‘shield’.

Alternatively, it may refer to a tavern owner or a beer drinker derived from the same word denoting light beer.

In this context, Weissbier refers specifically to ‘wheat beer’.

The blending of these meanings reflects the cultural shifts and adaptations of language.

Such transformations highlight the impact of German heritage on American identity.

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


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Where is the Knepshield family from?

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

In 1940, Laborer and Carton Dept were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Knepshield. 59% of Knepshield men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Knepshield women worked as a Carton Dept. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knepshield were Truck Driver and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Knepshield | 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

  • Laborer
    59%
  • Catcher
    18%
  • Farm Laborer
    12%
  • Truck Driver
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Carton Dept
    50%
  • Housekeeper
    50%

What Knepshield family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Knepshield

Passenger Lists

There are 17 immigration records available for the last name Knepshield. 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 Knepshield immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 192 military records available for the last name Knepshield. For the veterans among your Knepshield ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knepshield military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knepshield family history

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What is the average Knepshield lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Knepshield life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Knepshield in 1953 was 51, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knepshield

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knepshield 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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