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Schaefer Family History

Schaefer Name Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) (Schäfer): occupational name for a shepherd from an agent derivative of German Schaf Middle High German schāf ‘sheep’. The surname Schäfer is also found in Hungary and Czechia. Compare Schafer and Schaffer Dutch: of German origin (see 1 above). Compare Schaefers .

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


Similar surnames: Schaffer, Schiefer, Schiffer, Schaffter, Scharrer, Schadler, Scheler

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 Schaefer family from?

You can see how Schaefer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schaefer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schaefer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 216 Schaefer families living in Ontario. This was about 86% of all the recorded Schaefer's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Schaefer families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schaefer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Schaefer ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Schaefer. 44% of Schaefer men worked as a Farmer and 30% of Schaefer women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Schaefer were Labourer and Bookkeeper. .

View Census Data for Schaefer | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    44%
  • Laborer
    8%
  • Farmers Son
    6%
  • Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    30%
  • Stenographer
    30%
  • Saleswoman
    20%
  • Bookkeeper
    20%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Schaefer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 135,000 census records available for the last name Schaefer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schaefer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Schaefer

Passenger Lists

There are 30,000 immigration records available for the last name Schaefer. 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 Schaefer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 35,000 military records available for the last name Schaefer. For the veterans among your Schaefer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schaefer military records

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What is the average Schaefer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Schaefer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Schaefer in 1940 was 40, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schaefer

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