This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Lief family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Lief Family History

Lief Surname Meaning

English: variant of Leaf. Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Livonia (now a part of Latvia) from German Liv.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Lief family from?

You can see how Lief families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lief family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lief families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Lief families living in Quebec. This was 100% of all the recorded Lief's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Lief families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lief surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Lief ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Lief. 20% of Lief men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Lief women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lief were Clerk and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Lief | 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

  • Farmer
    20%
  • Salesman
    16%
  • Merchant
    16%
  • Clerk
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    60%
  • Stenographer
    40%

What Lief family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Lief

Passenger Lists

There are 484 immigration records available for the last name Lief. 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 Lief immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Lief. For the veterans among your Lief ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lief military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lief family history

Discover More

What is the average Lief lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Lief life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Lief in 1962 was 72, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lief

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lief 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lief family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial