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Shefner Family History

Shefner Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Sheffer, Hefner, Shofner, Scheiner, Henner, Hafner, Shearer, Spenner

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shefner family from?

You can see how Shefner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shefner family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Shefner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Shefner families living in New York. This was about 40% of all the recorded Shefner's in USA. New York and 1 other state had the highest population of Shefner families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shefner surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Shefner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Shefner. 100% of Shefner men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Shefner | 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
    100%

What Shefner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 389 census records available for the last name Shefner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shefner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Shefner

Passenger Lists

There are 56 immigration records available for the last name Shefner. 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 Shefner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 49 military records available for the last name Shefner. For the veterans among your Shefner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shefner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shefner family history

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What is the average Shefner lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Shefner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Shefner in 1962 was 79, and 78 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shefner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shefner 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 Shefner family tree

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