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Gerfen Family History

Gerfen Surname Meaning

German: probably from a short form (Gerbo) of a personal name composed with Old High German gēr ‘spear’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gerfen family from?

You can see how Gerfen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerfen family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Gerfen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 6 Gerfen families living in Illinois. This was about 43% of all the recorded Gerfen's in USA. Illinois and 1 other state had the highest population of Gerfen families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerfen 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 Gerfen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gerfen. 43% of Gerfen men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Gerfen women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gerfen were Farmer and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Gerfen | 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

  • Laborer
    43%
  • Clerk
    29%
  • Farmer
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    28%
  • Housework
    19%
  • Secretary
    19%
  • Stenographer
    19%

What Gerfen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Gerfen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerfen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gerfen

Passenger Lists

There are 180 immigration records available for the last name Gerfen. 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 Gerfen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 306 military records available for the last name Gerfen. For the veterans among your Gerfen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerfen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gerfen family history

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What is the average Gerfen lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Gerfen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gerfen in 1941 was 43, and 92 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gerfen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gerfen 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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