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Ratleff Family History

Ratleff 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: Ratliff, Ratcliff, Gatliff, Ratley, Ratzlaff, Radloff, Radliff

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ratleff family from?

You can see how Ratleff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ratleff family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Ratleff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Ratleff families living in Ohio. This was about 67% of all the recorded Ratleff's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Ratleff families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ratleff surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Ratleff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Machine Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ratleff. 24% of Ratleff men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Ratleff women worked as a Machine Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ratleff were Mechanic and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Ratleff | 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

  • Farmer
    24%
  • Laborer
    22%
  • Truck Driver
    11%
  • Mechanic
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Machine Operator
    43%
  • Cook
    29%
  • Housekeeper
    29%

What Ratleff family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Ratleff

Passenger Lists

There are 21 immigration records available for the last name Ratleff. 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 Ratleff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 157 military records available for the last name Ratleff. For the veterans among your Ratleff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ratleff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ratleff family history

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What is the average Ratleff lifespan?

Between 1972 and 2003, in the United States, Ratleff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Ratleff in 1972 was 45, and 74 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ratleff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ratleff 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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