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Shanafelt Family History

Shanafelt Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schönefeldt (see Shaneyfelt).

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 Shanafelt family from?

You can see how Shanafelt families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shanafelt family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Shanafelt families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Shanafelt family living in Indiana. This was about 50% of all the recorded Shanafelt's in USA. Indiana and 1 other state had the highest population of Shanafelt families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shanafelt 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 Shanafelt ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shanafelt. 30% of Shanafelt men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Shanafelt women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shanafelt were Proprietor and Teacher.

View Census Data for Shanafelt | 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
    30%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Proprietor
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    20%
  • Waitress
    20%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Teacher
    14%

What Shanafelt family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Shanafelt. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shanafelt census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shanafelt

Passenger Lists

There are 85 immigration records available for the last name Shanafelt. 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 Shanafelt immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 614 military records available for the last name Shanafelt. For the veterans among your Shanafelt ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shanafelt military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shanafelt family history

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What is the average Shanafelt lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Shanafelt life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Shanafelt in 1952 was 56, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shanafelt

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shanafelt 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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