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Kelker Family History

Kelker Surname Meaning

German: occupational name for a house painter (specifically someone who applied lime wash) from an agent derivative of Middle High German kelken ‘to whitewash to lime’.

Alternatively, it may be an occupational name for a lime burner (see Kalkbrenner).

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 Kelker family from?

You can see how Kelker families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelker family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelker families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Kelker family living in British Columbia. This was about 33% of all the recorded Kelker's in Canada. British Columbia and 2 other provinces had the highest population of Kelker families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelker 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 Kelker ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kelker. 24% of Kelker men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Kelker women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kelker were Carpenter and Saleslady.

View Census Data for Kelker | 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
    24%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Metal Worker
    8%
  • Carpenter
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    28%
  • Maid
    28%
  • Housework
    28%
  • Saleslady
    19%

What Kelker family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Kelker

Passenger Lists

There are 222 immigration records available for the last name Kelker. 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 Kelker immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 324 military records available for the last name Kelker. For the veterans among your Kelker ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelker military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelker family history

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What is the average Kelker lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Kelker life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Kelker in 1963 was 57, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelker

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kelker 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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