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Shafter Family History

Shafter Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schaffter. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Schaffter.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shafter family from?

You can see how Shafter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shafter family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Shafter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Shafter families living in Durham. This was about 25% of all the recorded Shafter's in United Kingdom. Durham and 2 other counties had the highest population of Shafter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shafter 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 Shafter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Button Sewer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shafter. 23% of Shafter men worked as a Salesman and 50% of Shafter women worked as a Button Sewer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shafter were Inspector and None.

View Census Data for Shafter | 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

  • Salesman
    23%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Lawyer
    10%
  • Inspector
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Button Sewer
    50%
  • None
    50%

What Shafter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Shafter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shafter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shafter

Passenger Lists

There are 307 immigration records available for the last name Shafter. 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 Shafter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Shafter. For the veterans among your Shafter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shafter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shafter family history

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What is the average Shafter lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Shafter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Shafter in 1949 was 53, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shafter

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

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