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Knaff Family History

Knaff Surname Meaning

German: altered form of Knauf or Knauff. This surname is very rare in Germany; it is more common in France (Lorraine).

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


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Where is the Knaff family from?

You can see how Knaff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knaff family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Knaff families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 12 Knaff families living in Ontario. This was about 80% of all the recorded Knaff's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Knaff families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knaff 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 Knaff ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Knaff. 25% of Knaff men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Knaff women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knaff were Salesman and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Knaff | 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
    25%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Miner
    7%
  • Salesman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    28%
  • Teacher
    19%
  • Cook
    14%
  • Stenographer
    14%

What Knaff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Knaff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knaff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Knaff

Passenger Lists

There are 364 immigration records available for the last name Knaff. 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 Knaff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 300 military records available for the last name Knaff. For the veterans among your Knaff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knaff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knaff family history

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What is the average Knaff lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Knaff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Knaff in 1963 was 62, and 74 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knaff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knaff 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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