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Pfahler Family History

Pfahler Surname Meaning

South German (also Pfähler): variant of Pfahl with the addition of the agent suffix -er hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a palissade or near a post marking the village boundary or just outside a city wall.

It can also be considered an occupational name for a postmaker.

This refers to someone who erected stakes in vineyards or who built fencing.

As such, the name Pfähler reflects a connection to both geographical and professional attributes associated with the environment.

Overall, it signifies the importance of boundary markers and structures in the South German culture.

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


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Where is the Pfahler family from?

You can see how Pfahler families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pfahler family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Pfahler families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 28 Pfahler families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Pfahler's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Pfahler families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pfahler 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 Pfahler ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pfahler. 29% of Pfahler men worked as a Laborer and 24% of Pfahler women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pfahler were Clerk and Candy Wrapper.

View Census Data for Pfahler | 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
    29%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    24%
  • Housekeeper
    24%
  • Office Clerk
    24%
  • Candy Wrapper
    16%

What Pfahler family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Pfahler

Passenger Lists

There are 550 immigration records available for the last name Pfahler. 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 Pfahler immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Pfahler. For the veterans among your Pfahler ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pfahler military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pfahler family history

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What is the average Pfahler lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Pfahler life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Pfahler in 1950 was 46, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pfahler

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pfahler 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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