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Leif Family History

Leif Surname Meaning

Swedish: from the Old Norse personal name Leifr a short form of the compound names with the second element leifr (from leif ‘heir’).

Americanized form of Swedish Lööf Löf or Löv (see Leaf).

English: rare variant of Leaf.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Leif family from?

You can see how Leif families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Leif family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Leif families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 7 Leif families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Leif's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Leif families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Leif 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 Leif ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Leif. 28% of Leif men worked as a Laborer and 24% of Leif women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Leif were Carpenter and Housewife.

View Census Data for Leif | 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
    28%
  • Clerk
    25%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Carpenter
    18%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    24%
  • Housekeeper
    16%
  • Maid
    16%
  • Housewife
    16%

What Leif family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Leif. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Leif census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Leif

Passenger Lists

There are 510 immigration records available for the last name Leif. 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 Leif immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 582 military records available for the last name Leif. For the veterans among your Leif ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Leif military records

You've only scratched the surface of Leif family history

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What is the average Leif lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Leif life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Leif in 1962 was 72, and 61 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Leif

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Leif 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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