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Oldfather Family History

Oldfather Name Meaning

Americanized form (translation into English) of German Altvater or of its very rare North German cognate Oldvader.

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


Similar surnames: Radmacher, Goldwasser, Lacher, Older, Blatter, Oldaker, Glatter

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Oldfather family from?

You can see how Oldfather families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Oldfather family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Oldfather families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Oldfather family living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Oldfather's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Oldfather families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Oldfather 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 Oldfather ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Oldfather. 28% of Oldfather men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Oldfather women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Oldfather were Mechanic and Maid. .

View Census Data for Oldfather | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    28%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Farm Operator
    14%
  • Mechanic
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    34%
  • Stenographer
    23%
  • Housewife
    23%
  • Maid
    23%
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What Oldfather family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Oldfather

Passenger Lists

There are 117 immigration records available for the last name Oldfather. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Oldfather immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 613 military records available for the last name Oldfather. For the veterans among your Oldfather ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Oldfather lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Oldfather life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Oldfather in 1955 was 45, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Oldfather

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