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Reffner Family History

Reffner Surname Meaning

German: occupational name for a peddler from an agent derivative of Middle High German ref(f) ‘pannier basket’ (see Reff).

Alternatively, it may be a nickname for a scold from an agent derivative of Middle High German reffen ‘to scold or chastise’.

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


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Where is the Reffner family from?

You can see how Reffner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Reffner family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Reffner families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there was 1 Reffner family living in Quebec. This was 100% of all the recorded Reffner's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Reffner families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Reffner 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 Reffner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Reffner. 31% of Reffner men worked as a Laborer and 42% of Reffner women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Reffner were Salesman and Waitress.

View Census Data for Reffner | 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
    31%
  • Miner
    11%
  • Machinist
    9%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    42%
  • Maid
    24%
  • Weaver
    12%
  • Waitress
    12%

What Reffner family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Reffner

Passenger Lists

There are 52 immigration records available for the last name Reffner. 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 Reffner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 470 military records available for the last name Reffner. For the veterans among your Reffner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Reffner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Reffner family history

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What is the average Reffner lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Reffner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Reffner in 1950 was 30, and 99 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Reffner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Reffner 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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