Dafter Family History

Dafter Surname Meaning

Apparently from Middle English doughter, dohtor, douter (Old English dohtor) ‘daughter’, often pronounced in early Modern English as dafter. For the name to be borne by a man such that it became a hereditary surname is surprising, though there are occasional instances of men being named in this way (unless they are clerical errors).

Compare Robertus ffelisdoghter 1379 in Poll Tax (Wentworth WR Yorks); Johannes Wendoghter 1379 in Poll Tax (Clotherholme with Bishopton WR Yorks); and Ric' doghter Wryght 1379 in Poll Tax (South Elmsall WR Yorks).

Alternatively, Daughter might be a simplified pronunciation of Dawtrey (also spelled Daughtrey), a surname well evidenced in WR Yorks and Sussex, where Doughter and Daughter also occur; in which case the change to Dafter will have arisen through misinterpretation.

Compare Johna Dautre 1541 in IGI (Calne Wilts), Robert Daughtre 1585 in IGI (Edensor Derbys), and George Doughtre 1647 in IGI (Shrewsbury Shrops), any of which might be examples of either name.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Similar surnames: Darter, Rafter, Cater, Master, Alter, Ganter, Easter, Malter, Halter, Carter

3K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
147	Military Records
280	Immigration Records
2K	Census and Voter Lists
5K	Member Trees

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Where is the Dafter family from?

You can see how Dafter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dafter family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Dafter families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 18 Dafter families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Dafter's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Dafter families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dafter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Dafter

What did your Dafter ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid domestic duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Dafter.

View Census Data for Dafter

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.

Unpaid domestic duties

89%

Housewife

Domestic duties

What Dafter family records will you find?

Census Record

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

Search Canadian census records for Dafter

Passenger List

There are 280 immigration records available for the last name Dafter. 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 Dafter immigration records

Military Records

There are 147 military records available for the last name Dafter. For the veterans among your Dafter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Dafter family history

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What is the average Dafter lifespan?

Between 1973 and 2004, in the United States, Dafter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Dafter in 1973 was 76, and 50 in 2004.

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Dafter Surname Meaning

Compare Johna Dautre 1541 in IGI (Calne Wilts), Robert Daughtre 1585 in IGI (Edensor Derbys), and George Doughtre 1647 in IGI (Shrewsbury Shrops), any of which might be examples of either name.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Where is the Dafter family from?

What did your Dafter ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid domestic duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Dafter.

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.

Unpaid domestic duties

89%

Housewife

Domestic duties

What Dafter family records will you find?

What is the average Dafter lifespan?

Between 1973 and 2004, in the United States, Dafter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Dafter in 1973 was 76, and 50 in 2004.

Dafter Family History

Dafter Surname Meaning

11,000 record(s) for Dafter

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

Where is the Dafter family from?

What did your Dafter ancestors do for a living?

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Dafter family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Dafter family history

What is the average Dafter lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dafter family tree

Search for another surname

Dafter Surname Meaning

11,000 record(s) for Dafter

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

Where is the Dafter family from?

What did your Dafter ancestors do for a living?

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Dafter family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Dafter family history

What is the average Dafter lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dafter family tree

Search for another surname