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Pfau Family History

Pfau Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German pfā pfāwe ‘peacock’ modern German Pfau. As a German name this is generally a nickname for a vain strutting person or in some cases a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a peacock.

As a Jewish name it is generally artificial.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pfau family from?

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

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pfau. 18% of Pfau men worked as a Laborer and 24% of Pfau women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pfau were Clerk and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Pfau | 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
    18%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Salesman
    14%
  • Clerk
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    24%
  • Maid
    18%
  • Saleswoman
    12%
  • Housekeeper
    12%

What Pfau family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Pfau. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pfau census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pfau

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Pfau. 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 Pfau immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Pfau military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pfau family history

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What is the average Pfau lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Pfau life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Pfau in 1956 was 44, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pfau

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

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